Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Artomatic!

Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic transforms an unfinished indoor space into an exciting and diverse arts event that is free and open to the public. In addition to displays by hundreds of artists, the event features free films, educational presentations and children’s activities, as well as musical, dance, poetry, theater and other performances.



May 29 – July 5, 2009
55 M Street, S.E. (at the corner with Half Street)
Washington, DC 20003
Metro stop: Green Line, Navy Yard, Ballpark exit
Free admission. Donations accepted

HOURS

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: Noon – 1 a.m. (except for special events. See calendar).
Sundays: Noon – 10 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Admission to Artomatic is free for visitors. The Artomatic 2009 building has elevators and is accessible for those with wheelchairs.

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Artomatic will be bringing its trademark one-of-a-kind multimedia arts event to Half Street’s 55 M Street, S.E., in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood in summer 2009.

In conjunction with the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) and Monument Realty, Artomatic will be presenting more than five weeks of art, music, theater, workshops and more — all of it free for visitors. Located between the U.S. Capitol Building and the Anacostia River and between Barracks Row Main Street and South Capitol Street, the Capitol Riverfront is a vibrant new business center, urban neighborhood, entertainment district and waterfront destination.

Admission to Artomatic is always free for visitors. Come check out the work of our own VWStudios and Tarabu.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Favorite Shops: pinpinn

I love that pinpin's shop announcement says, "Pincushions should be another extension of who YOU are as a crafter, sewer, designer, and eco-savvy artist!" It just makes sense, doesn't it? That the place we seamstresses spend the most time (in front of our machines) should be unique, too? And I really love that if my husband were a seamstress, I'd find the perfect pincushion for him right here, too!


Rubix Cube Pincushion - OOAK -


Peacock of Many Colors Pincushion

The pincushions you'll find in this cute shop are crafted from upcycled wool and EcoFelt and filled with EcoCraft fiberfill (a sustainable fiberfill made from corn). Perfect for us environmentally aware seamstresses! Give your pins a happy home!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Tutorial: Rainstick



Tamara of Block Party Press agreed to let me share this fun tutorial from her blog. Enjoy!

It's been raining here for the last couple of days and despite the fact that it is still pretty cold, there is still always something cleansing and refreshing about the rain. I thought it was the perfect opening for me to share a fun tutorial about how to make a rainstick. The recycled crayon tutorial was really well received, so I thought I would post another one. This one also uses mostly recycled items. It doesn't have as many photos because we actually made them awhile ago, but I think you'll be able to follow along pretty easily.

Materials needed:

1 cardboard paper towel roll
approximately 30 1 inch nails
beads - assorted shapes, sizes, glass and plastic
1 sheet of cardstock
masking or duct tape
papier mache paste
strips of newspaper
tissue paper
white glue



1. The first thing you need to do is insert nails into the paper towel roll approximately 1/2 inch apart following the spiral of the card board on the paper towel roll. Make a second row of nails about 1 inch below the first row and spiral it around the roll. This is probably best done by parents if you are doing this with your children. You can also pre-poke the holes and then it should be OK for the kids to insert the nails. The nails should be short enough that they don't puncture the other side, but long enough to span the diameter of the roll. When you are finished, this is what the inside of your roll should look like:



The spiral "staircase" made by the nails will slow the beads a bit as the travel down the roll and create the rain sound.

2. Next cut 2 circles out of the cardstock to cover the ends of the roll. The cardstock will add another dimension of sound as the beads hit it. Cover one end and tape down the cardstock. Remember to add the beads before sealing the other end. I recommend using different sizes of beads and both plastic and glass for a realistic rain sound. Test your rainstick by tilting it and listen to hear the rain.

3. Cover the entire stick with tape. This will secure the nails and help the roll keep its shape during the papier mache process.

4. Take strips of newspaper and dip them in the papier mache paste (follow the link above for an easy recipe, or just google it. There tons of different recipes out there) and wipe off the excess. Layer the strips of paper, making sure to change directions for each layer to increase it's strength. You'll need at least 4 layers. Let it dry overnight. If the rain stick feels sturdy and strong when dry proceed to the next step. If it is still a bit flimsy, add a couple more layers of papier mache & newspaper strips and let dry again before proceeding.

5. Seal the rainstick with gesso or primer and then paint or cover with strips of tissue using slightly watered down white glue. I recommend sealing the stick with matte sealer spray to protect your design since it will be handled.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Friday Finds - Whoo Loves You, Baby?

A wise old owl sat on an oak.
The more he saw the less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that bird?
--Poem from the Owl Bar at the Belvedere, Baltimore

I've been thinking about owls for a couple of months now, wanting to make or buy myself a new bag with a wise owl motif. Etsy, as usual, has been a rich source of materials for my owl fantasies:

First, the fabric. I bought some of this New Echino fabric by Etsuko Furuya, called "Tiger on a Tree." It comes in pink and black, and I bought some of each from The Fabric Worm.



I want a couple of large-sized buttons to close my wise owl bag. I think these little beauties from Buttons by Robin will do very nicely.



Handmade Sewing Buttons

On the other hand, this Otis the Owl iron on patch from BEST's own JennyJen42 could be, umm, pressed into service on denim or other plain fabric for a sturdy and original owl bag.



Otis the Owl Patch

If I get lazy, I can always stick with Jen for a nicely-turned-out owl pouch.



Mr. Owl Zipper Pouch

Or maybe I'll just slip over to Deluxe Junque for one of their owl and leopard Betty bags.



Hootie Owl Bamboo Betty Bag

written by Anne Madison of amadison.

Transmodern, This Weekend

The 6th Annual Transmodern Festival!

Four Days of Avant Performance, Installation,
Sound, Film, Mayhem, Ecstasy, and Radical Culture!
April 2nd thru April 5th, 2009
H&H Building
405 W. Franklin Street
Baltimore MD

The 6th Annual Transmodern Festival (Live.Art.Action) will be held at the H&H Building and the surrounding Lexington Market & Seton Hill neighborhood from Thursday, April 2nd to Sunday, April 5th. Following last year’s record attendance and crowds, the festival expands again in 2009 to fill four floors of artists’ lofts and galleries at the H&H Building in downtown Baltimore.

Complete info here. See you there!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Weekend Deals


greenstarstudio is giving you a chance to scoop up some fabulous goodies AND help support the MD SPCA. Beginning April 1st, you can enjoy free shipping off any purchase of $10 or more AND the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that 10% of your purchase price is going directly to animals in need. Just enter code MDSPCA in the "notes to seller" section at checkout, and wait for a revised PayPal invoice. Sale valid through Sunday, April 29th at 11:59pm. And this month only, order a custom knitimal of your pet for only $100; $20 of which goes to the MDSPCA.

If you're interested in additional ways you can contribute to greenstarstudio's "art with heart" charity of the month, The MD SPCA March for the Animals, check out her blog!



tigerlillyshop is offering her biggest sale ever Friday April 3-5!

Buy 2 plastic rings, get one free! (please request design of choice for free ring)
Buy 2 button rings, get a one free! (please request color of choice for free ring)
Buy 2 stud earrings, get a surprise pair free!
AND 20% off all metal jewelry!!!!



For this weekend only, elisasherejewelry is offering 10% off your order. Leave code "BEST" in the notes to seller and wait for an adjusted invoice.

And the Winner Is...

#4, Cytel! Please contact us at baltimoreetsy(at)gmail(dot)com, so we can send your goodies out! Thanks, everyone, for participating! Be on the lookout for our next giveaway!

Come shop the BEST’s Jewelry Trunk show!

Magnolia Designs, April 4, 2009 11:00-3:00

246 S. Conkling Street Baltimore, MD 21224

Lite Fare & Refreshments will be served.

This year Magnolia Designs welcomes members from the Baltimore Etsy Street Team to showcase their talents in their gallery. From contemporary metalwork, to beaded semiprecious stones, enameling, to cool vintage component accessories, you will find diverse talent at this trunk show.

Tucked away in an unassuming part of Baltimore, Magnolia Designs is a vibrant gallery located in the heart of the Highlandtown Arts District. Designer Felicia Zannino-Baker operates a home furnishing and art gallery where she features paintings, sculpture, and photography by local and regional artists. She also specializes in interior design and décor projects for the home.

Participating Jewelry Artists:

Elisa Shere
Sherry Insle
Lauren Brownlie
Allison Fomich
Maria Vashakidze + Minna Nilanont

Cat McManus
Anne Madison

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Sew Them What You've Got!

Enter the Sew Me What You Got Competition, part of Fashion at Artscape.

Design one garment using fabric purchased at IKEA Baltimore (8352 Honeygo Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21236). Apply online (http://www.artscape.org) via e-mail to joehler@promotionandarts.com May 4. Only online entries are accepted! Fifteen semifinalists will be announced on May 8. Garments are displayed at IKEA Baltimore from Tuesday, May 26–Friday, May 29.

Voting for five finalists takes place online @ www.artscape.org, www.fashioniconsonline.com, MySpace, Facebook and at IKEA Baltimore. The competition kicks off during Fashion at Artscape on Sunday, July 19 at 6pm. The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize and photo spread in an upcoming issue of Iconography the Magazine (www.iconographythemagazine.com).

Good Luck!