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ASCB Vendor Spotlight: Shawn Hileman

photo by Chris Sembrot

Artist: Shawn Hileman
http://www.shawnhileman.com/indexhibit/
Gallery/Studio Space: Masthead Print Studio
http://mastheadprintstudio.com/
Located In: Philadelphia
find him at booth # 54 at our upcoming art star craft bazaar!

Art Star: When & where did you learn silkscreen? How long have you been doing it for?

Shawn Hileman: I printed a bit in college but it was just a hobby. I started screenprinting on a regular basis when I opened the studio in Dec 09′. It’s been quite a ride figuring out all the kinks!

AS: What drew you to work primarily in this medium?

SH:I was sick of sitting at the computer all the time so this gives me the opportunity to get really hands on and test my craft skills. When you have multiple copies of a piece as well it allows everything to be able to afford custom art. No print is ever exactly the same and it’s funny because I can remember all the tiny differences on my prints that nobody will ever probably notice.

Beirut Poster

AS: Tell us a bit about Masthead – your studio space/home & art gallery.

SH: Masthead started as a place where I could print and live. Then I had the first show in Feb 10′ with the NoDivision Design Syndicate. Since that was successful I starting doing more and more events. Now we usually have a show every 6 weeks with the occasional lecture or rock show. It’s a ton of work but I’ve had some great people help out with the space. Jp (Flexner) and James (Heimer) do so much for the space. Without them none of this would of been possible. They are also mind-blowing screenprinters and have taught me basically everything I know about printing (and drinking whiskey).

AS: What other artists do you show? Are they all printers?

SH: We have had a ton of great artists pass through the space. Dan Knapp is always making some of my favorite pieces in each show. We had Kevin Mercer do a solo show last year that turned out amazing. Most people do screenprint their own work here, which is awesome. I have been trying to get more non-printers in and teach them. That way it would give the opportunity for more painters, illustrators, and designers to learn the process.

AS:Do you do design work / print for other companies/individuals?

SH:I work a lot with Urban Outfitters and some other ad agencies doing design work and usually do a good amount of print jobs for other people.

Neol Gallagher Poster

AS: Are there any particular printers or artists in general that have inspired your work?

SH:Definitely Erik Hamline of Steady Print Co. in Minneapolis. His style is really versatile and always top notch. Tim Gough has been a favorite of mine since I was in school. Steve Speir has been honing his style lately and just cranking out sick work as well.

AS: What is your creative process like? Do you sketch or do you work directly on the computer?

SH: I have to dwell over the concept before I start sketching and digitizing. Once I have that down, I sketch out the layouts and then scan in the elements. I do a lot on the computer and this is why you should make your scanner your best friend.

AS: Where do you see yourself and/or Masthead in the next 5 years?

SH: Oh man, this is a hard one. I was just planning everything around 2012! I would like to keep doing freelance and screenprinting, but we’ll see. I would like to check out some other parts of the world like London and Australia.

Ride Away With Me, limited edition print

AS: Aside from your etsy shop & Art Star (and Masthead of course) where do you sell your prints?

SH: I actually just sent some prints to Little Paper Planes in California. I get a lot of purchases from the UK which is great that people are seeing my work overseas.

AS: What can customers expect to find at your ascb booth?

SH: I have a good mix of abstract, commercial and music posters. Maybe a pinata as well. Just don’t come by during siesta time.

AS: Any fun/exciting projects in the works?

SH: I finished some packaging for the Yards Brewing Company last week and a couple of music posters. I am also working on some branding for a film company in New York City.

November 16, 2011
Happy 2012!

Thanks to all of our customers who shopped handmade this holiday season. Purchasing an item from our shop directly supports over 50 national artists – many of whom live right here in Philly. These times are tough, so we appreciate everyone that made a commitment to shopping local & handmade this season. It really makes a difference!!

Now that the holidays are over – its time to get organized. Pick up one of our 2012 Calendars by Art Star favorites: Amy Rice, Rachel Bone, Eleanor Grosch, & Kurt Halsey. We worked directly with these artists to create these calendars & they can only be found at Art Star. We only made a limited quantity, so pick one up while they are still in stock.

Rachel Bone 2012 Calendar

Rachel Bone is a Baltimore based artist, painter & apparel designer whose illustrative paintings center around women on absurd adventures with open ended narratives and symbolism. This series – titled I Bet You – plays with typographical design. Each painting subtly represents one alphabet letter, while still standing alone as individual works of art. Signed prints of the entire alphabet series are available through Art Star. Rachel also runs the hand-printed, folk inspired apparel line Red Prairie Press which is carried at boutiques across the country (including Art Star) and sold online.

Eleanor Grosch 2012 Calendar

Eleanor Grosch is a Philadelphia based artists who loves animals; you name it, she’s probably drawn it! Eleanor’s unique graphic perspective aims to simplify line and playfully arrange form to capture the essence of each animal she draws. She’s well-known for her graphic take on our feathered, furry, and fuzzy friends. With roots in modernist design, she brings the mid-century aesthetic up-to-date.

Kurt Halsey 2012

We have been working with Portland based artist, Kurt Halsey, since we opened up shop in 2004. We had no idea how huge of an online following he had when we asked him to exhibit his work in our shop. He is still by far one of our best selling artists!
Kurt captures small, precious moments in time through his sweet renderings of couples & animals just living life. The imagery is illustrative in nature & the artist typically incorporates text, which is simple yet poetic. The calendar includes all new work, rich in browns & sepia tones of drawings on collaged found papers. Grab this calendar while you still can. We only have 1 box left!

Amy Rice 2012 Calendar

Beginning with not-so-traditional print making methods (hand cut stencils and a Japanese Gocco printmaking toy) Minneapolis based mixed-media artist Amy Rice makes original, one-of-kind pieces by additionally employing acrylic, gouache, ink and collage. Her “canvases” range from weathered wood panels and discarded objects to antique envelopes, age-worn love letters, and found journal pages yellowed with time.

Amy’s imagery, nostalgic and wistful, is largely biographical and reflective of her pensive nature. She draws inspiration from childhood memories growing up on a Midwestern farm, the urban community in which she now lives, bicycles, street art, gardening, collective endeavors that challenge hierarchy, acts of compassion, downright silliness and things with wings.

Amy has exhibited her work in galleries throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

January 3, 2012
How to Copyright your Art

Being in the art biz for over 10 years now, I have seen so many artists get their work ripped off by either individual artists or companies. It especially pisses me off when a big company does this b/c it seems like there is not much us little people (with little resources) can do. Recently, our friend & artist Jude Buffum posted some really great advice on his facebook page. I wanted to share b/c it seems so simple & affordable.

He says, “All artists can copyright their work for $35 online at copyright.gov
Click on the eCO (electronic copyright office) link in the right column
From there it’s fairly straight forward. Have JPG photos or scans (internet quality is fine) of your work ready to upload. You can include everything you’ve done to date in one $35 registration case file, just give it a title like “Jewelry 2006–2012” or “Paintings 2010–2012″ or something. This is the single most important thing you can do as an artist. If and when someone copies your work, having your work registered gives you legal options you can’t even imagine, but not having it registered limits your options to the point no lawyer will take your case. TRUST ME it is the best $35 you will ever spend.”

Thanks Jude!
www.judebuffum.com

March 27, 2012
ASCB Vendor Spotlight: Angie Mason

Hello Gorgeous! The lovely Angie Mason

Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
I went to Parsons New School for Design in NYC where I studied illustration and fine arts.

What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
I have a nice selection of treats! I will be bringing everything from “Wearable Art” such as jewelry, t-shirts and hand bags to my hand painted plates, art prints, original paintings, drawing and sculptures. A nice selection with a price point for everybody.

a sample of goodies that you will see at our upcoming ASCB!

What materials do you work with?
I like to mix things up and will use anything and everything. I do have a large focus on painting which tends to be acrylic or oil. I also like to create sculptures of my characters in sculpey clay & then paint those. I have dabbled in photography, video and silkscreening. I feel as a creative person it only helps having a wide scope of creative materials and methods to bring my ideas to fruition in which ever way best suits a particular idea.

"Some Magic Left In Me" & "The Sun" by Angie Mason

How are your items made? Describe your process.
Just about everything I do is D.I.Y. – from hand pulling shirts with silkscreening to hand painted plates and original paintings and drawings. To describe the process a bit, all my ideas start in my sketchbooks then grow into individual projects whether they are painting, a necklace or anything. They are all created in my in home art studio. I have no assistants so my hands and eyes touch and see everything going on… my cat likes to think he is an assistant in my studio but I haven’t quite found a purpose for all the toys he brings to me as gifts. Sometimes he gets carried away with them but I will not go into any more detail than that. 😉

hand painted plates by Angie Mason

Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
I have balanced my life so far creatively and financially by working both as an exhibiting artist (which is the part I love but does not really pay my mortgage) to a more grounded financially, yet still highly creative path, as a fulltime illustrator/designer during the day where I have worked at dot coms and publishing houses. Currently I have been freelancing for my own L.L.C. but I am always looking for new opportunities for both sides of my creative life. Also to note currently I am focusing on preparing for a solo exhibit this July 7th in New York City at Sacred Gallery.

the artist's studio

Who are some of your favorite artists?
I have always adored the surrealists such as Remedios Varos, Leonora Carrington, & Dorthea Tanning. I also have always been drawn to Botticelli’s works which I was able to see 2 of my favorites at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence Italy in 2009. That really was an amazing trip – getting to see so much history, it filled my mind with inspiration. Another I always loved is Hieronymus Bosch – I have a print on canvas of his Garden Of Earthly Delights hanging in my bedroom and to this day it’s one of my favorites. It’s always different when I look at so many lives and characters existing in those 3 worlds! I also enjoy a lot of works from the 1400 and 1500s. One last one to mention here, I just love Grant Wood. I find his works (not so much his portraits of people but the landscape works) to be so magical! Ever since I was a young child I always imagined climbing into and living in the painting ‘The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere‘ painted in 1931. Also, look up his drawings of haystacks and horses – they are wonderful.

the artist's studio (view 2)

What are you reading/listening to right now?
Now with having a smart phone I find I read a lot on there – mostly random life hacker type articles or NPR newsy articles on their which is probably killing my eyes. Musically I am enjoying the new Magnetic Fields as well as Grimes, We Are Augustines and Cold Cave are some bands in a recent mix I have created. I grew up loving music and still do. Recently while painting I was listening to Stars Of The Lid and Zoe Keating BOTH AMAZING to paint to.

T-Shirt by Angie Mason

Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
I would like to see it continue to grow into a more lucrative venture that is able to sustain itself. I would like to continue to exhibit my art in various places hopefully allowing me the opportunity to travel to interesting places while doing so. I also would like to expand into licensing my artwork, it is untapped ground which I would like to get more involved in. I basically am looking to find balance in this modern world that revolves around money sadly but allow me the comfort and freedom to be able to produce and create my personal visions. I have been very fortunate thus far and just hope doors keep opening or at least appearing so then I can try to open those doors to see what new adventures lies behind them.

Visit Angie at the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar!
www.angiemason.com

April 9, 2012
Meet Ashley Landon of The Knotty Owl

Next up in our series of Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor Profiles is Ashley Landon of The Knotty Owl. Hailing from Rochester NY, Ashley creates hand-cut jewelry (no laser cutting here!) made from local, reclaimed lumber. Find her at the ASCB at Booth #93.

Walnut and Cherry Chevron Necklace by The Knotty Owl

Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Ashley Landon: Technically yes, I graduated from Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute for Industrial Design in 2011. I worked for the Fine Arts Department in the wood shop however, so I like to think I got the best of both worlds since most of my time was spent surrounded by fine artists.

AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
AL: I will be selling my hand-carved and painted wooden jewelry and adornments.

AS: What materials do you work with?
AL: I use found, salvaged, locally harvested, and otherwise locally purchased lumber. My favorite woods to work with are cherry, walnut, maple, redwood, and the fallen branches from a silver maple tree in my backyard. I assemble my pieces with sterling silver and brass chain.

The Knotty Owl Studio

AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
AL: All of my pieces are made from start to finish in my small wood shop and studio, conveniently located in my basement. Every wooden component starts as part of a rough piece of lumber, which I re-saw myself. I absolutely love the “analog” methods of creating my jewelry, and prefer to have hands-on control of every aspect of my process rather than using laser cutters. Once the wood is milled flat, I draw my rough shapes, and cut them out very carefully on a bandsaw. I use a belt sander and hand files to shape each piece, and finish the rest of the sanding by hand. I paint all of the designs on my pieces, apply the wood finish, and assemble the pieces into their final jewelry designs once they’re dry.

AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
AL: I’m lucky enough to call The Knotty Owl my full-time gig, doing the occasional wood-based commission job or furniture repair project on the side. I’m also part of a business partnership, Dichotomy Rochester, and we are preparing to open our first retail store this summer in Rochester, New York.

Carved Raven Skull Pendants by The Knotty Owl

AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
AL: My favorite artists/designers are the husband and wife duo Charles and Ray Eames. Their design principles have significantly informed my creative style, and they’re both incredibly inspiring on a personal level. I’m also and avid fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the fact that he so fully considered his designs from the architecture of each house, to the tableware that would adorn it’s interior. Other favorites are Hans Wegner and George Nakashima.

AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
AL: I’m about halfway through Vonnegut’s Cat Cradle (for the second time), and have been switching back and forth between listening to The XX and every Modest Mouse album made before 2001.

AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
AL: I plan to eventually expand my wood shop into a space that could properly house a larger collection of tools, and possibly an assistant, to help me keep up with orders while I continually work on new designs. Being in sole control of every aspect of my little business (as many of us sole proprietors are) is so overwhelming at times, leaving very little mental stamina to keep producing new work, and I’d love so much to change that within the next year or two. My main goal is to help my father retire within the next year, as he is my part-time expert sander on the weekends, and we really enjoy working together. The process of starting this business has been such an incredible learning experience and blessing, and I’m content to continue planting the seeds of my business and helping it grow naturally. I’d also like to get back into furniture design and larger scale woodworking projects in the near future.

Spirit Animal Brooches by The Knotty Owl

AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
AL: I’m extremely excited to finally see Horrible Adorables in person (I’ve loved their work on Etsy forever), and Twig Terrariums (I’m an obsessive collector of terrariums), but realistically I’ve been to every vendor’s website over the past week and am thrilled to be in the presence of all of them next month!

April 13, 2013
Meet Julie Lange of On 3 Designs!

Julie Lange with her bag colletion

Next up in our series of Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor Profiles is Philadelphia based textile artist/designer, Julie Lange of On 3 Designs. Julie crafts beautiful clutches, bags and purses from her own screen printed fabric designs. Visit her at the bazaar at booth #69!

Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Julie Lange: Most recently I worked in Financial Services but I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Chemical Engineering. I worked in the field for over 11 years in manufacturing providing engineering support to everything from Corelle dishware to TV parts to pharmaceuticals. (If you stop by my booth, ask how many of these companies used a form of screen printing.  Seriously :))

AS: So where did you learn to do your craft?
JL: I always had an interest in arts and crafts, taking classes on the side at local community colleges, etc. I tried everything – drawing, painting, pottery and frankly, I hated sewing until I took a class as an adult while living in LA…lower Alabama. Then I was hooked and so my addiction to fabric started. More recently, I learned to screen print from Candy Depew at the Candy Coated Center and from Bill Brookover at Fleisher Art Memorial.   Screen printing fabrics to use in my sewing projects is my new passion.

AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
JL: I will be selling handmade handbags and clutches. I am introducing some new cross-body bags and jewelry made from fabric too. About 60% of my collection right now is made from original, screen printed fabrics and sewn on the 3rd floor of my home, hence the name, On 3 Designs.

AS: What materials do you work with?
JL: I screen print using waterbased fabric inks on high quality quilting cottons, linens and sometimes denim to create all my items. Since I LOVE fabric, I carefully select commercially made fabrics that compliment my original line of fabrics.

AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
JL: Each project starts differently. Typically, I create an inspiration board from magazine clippings, or my personal photos.  (The pre-pinterest way!) I save a lot of images that I like even when I don’t know what I am going to do with them – people, places, color combos, etc.

If I am printing my own fabric, then, I plan and choose the best method to create the silk screen (stencil, photographic process, etc), often starting with hand sketches or scanned photographic images. I hand screen print in my home studio or at Fleisher Art Memorial.

Each bag is sewn by me using professional sewing techniques that I have learned over the last 18 years. I use multiple layers of interfacings and interlinings to keep the shape of my clutches, even when you carry your cell phone and keys.

new fabrics

AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
JL: Yes! And I love it! About a year ago, I transitioned from a fulltime corporate job to officially launch my business. In addition to my core business, making handbags, I also teach fashion, sewing and textile design to adults and children at Main Line School Night, Chester County Night School and the Eilandarts Center. Occassionally, I take requests for custom drapes and clothing too. It’s been super exciting, a little stressful at times but always fun!   Big thanks to my husband and daughter for supporting me through my new endeavor!

Julie with some of her students

AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
JL: My favorite artist is Gustav Klimt, for both his simpler sketches as well as his more popular paintings of women emblazened with shapes, textures, many, many colors and golden metallics. I would love to wear the garments these ladies are donning!

Gustav Klimt

AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
JL: Read? I am sewing ALL the time. No time to read though I do have a guilty pleasure…watching Shark Tank on TV Friday eves!

AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? JL: I’d love to offer clothing items in addition to fashion accessories with a small team of employees helping me to grow the business in to more retail shops.

Julie’s studio – on the third floor!

AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
JL: I am looking forward to seeing Once Lost Jewelry. I was amazed last year by the re-use of materials, making each piece look interesting instead of just recycled. I’d love to have Michelle make me something from vintage jewelry pieces I have in my collection from my grandparents.

April 16, 2013
Christie’s Hand Stitched Bowl Tutorial

Photos + Tutorial by Christie Sommers

You will need:
-cotton clothesline
-quilting needle (you can use a regular sewing needle with a thimble but a larger quilting needle is best for passing through the thick clothesline)
-embroidery thread, yarn, or string in color of your choice
-scissors

Thread the needle with colored string of choice and tie a knot at the end.

Use as much thread as you can manage. No more than 3′ should suffice. You can tie more thread on when you run out.

Start by coiling the clothesline between two fingers as shown.

Insert the needle into the center of the coil passing through the layers of rope and exit as shown.

We will be using a blanket stitch for this project. Wrap your working thread behind the needle from right to left.

Bring the thread back over the needle from left to right and pull the needle through.

Repeat going around in a circle, entering in the center, until you reach the first stitch.

If you want a bowl with a wide flat base, you can continue the flat blanket stitch going around a few more times until the base is as wide as you like.

At this point you will be rounding up to give your bowl a curved shape.

To achieve this, you will be inserting the needle straight through the clothesline from front to back rather than from the center out. See pic.

Continue with the blanket stitch inserting the needle through the clothesline from front to back until your bowl is as large as you like.

You will most likely run out of stitching thread as you are working. To add more, tie a new 3′ length of thread to the tail of the previous working thread. Place the ends together as shown and tie in a knot.

For the next few stitches, Insert the needle Between the coils instead of through the rope until your knot is hidden.

Once you pass the knot, continue stitching through the rope until you reach the desired bowl size.

Tie off your working thread and then snip the clothesline, You’re done!

As you can see from the next photo, the placement of your stitches will determine the design of your bowl. For the black bowl, I spaced my stitches out and staggered with each layer, essentially placing new stitches between the stitches on the previous level. For the red bowl, each new stitch was placed right next to the previous level’s stitch. Play around with stitch placement to see what you can come up with.

Enjoy!

—————————————————————————————————————

Christie Sommers is the designer and maker behind West Oak Design. She handcrafts small batch and one of a kind goods for home, women, and kids in her Wyndmoor, Pa studio.www.westoakdesign.com

February 26, 2015
Meet Matt Eyer of Wear Liberty

Matt Eyer is the owner, founder, and creative director of Wear Liberty, a graphic t-shirt brand that is influenced and inspired by the art, history, and culture of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Previous to starting his brand, he was the Art Director of the Ropeadope Design Collective, a graphic t-shirt line put out through Ropeadope Records. Matt also writes about and reviews t-shirts for the most popular/read t-shirt blog in the world, Hide Your Arms.

Aside from t-shirts, he is obsessed with pugs. Matt has a 6 year old pug named Oliver that lives with him in South Philly. He also got a pug tattoo at the 2013 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention. Ask him to see it!

Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Matt Eyer: I did not. I did live in Germany for a year in between high school and college though, and I think my experience there definitely plays into my inspiration.

AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
ME: T-shirts! My brand is centered around graphic t-shirts. I have a few hoodies too.

AS: What materials do you work with?
ME: T-shirts! haha. and inks to print on them. I mostly use American Apparel shirts, as they are great to print on and very comfy to wear. I use 100% cotton, a 50/50 Poly-Cotton blend, and a super soft Tri-Blend shirt.

AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
ME: All my designs are my ideas that start in my head and sometimes on paper with a very rough sketch. I then share these ideas with the artists and designers I work with and they beautifully craft them into print-ready designs. When the finished pieces are set to go, they are hand screen printed onto t-shirts and then I have custom hem tags that I sew on myself.

AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
ME: Not yet, unfortunately. Hopefully soon though! My “day job” is actually a night job. I’m a server at one of Philly’s most delicious Mexican restaurants, La Calaca Feliz. If you like Mexican and margaritas, I highly recommend coming in. And ask for me of course.

AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
ME: Wotto is definitely one of my all time favorites. He has an incredible style that you can always recognize as soon as you see one of his designs. Yema Yema is also at the top of my list. She creates some of the best characters I’ve ever seen. (She designed my Ben Franklin tee and I will have a new one from her this year!) againstbound is another favorite. He has a very unique style that stands out from the crowd. And one of my more recent favorites is Colus. (He just released is first ever dunny with kidrobot!)

I also recently discovered these two wonderful ladies: Anita Inverarity and Lea Barozzi. I just put a deposit on one of Lea’s original pieces!

AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
ME: Always listening! Local Natives, Tame Impala, Beach House, Father John Misty, Vacationer. All those bands have released really awesome records over the past year and you should definitely check them out.

AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
ME: 10 years is a long time from now…but in the next few years, I would like to get my shirts into more stores and shops in Philadelphia and hopefully open my own store one day! I’m also planning on creating a Wear Liberty pet line for all of your Philly loving cats and dogs.

AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
ME: Gnome Enterprises always has some awesome shirts, so I’ll have to check them out. All the stuff from Mad Knits, Gearforms, and Cutesy but not Cutesy looks great (especially the dog monster hoodie!), so I’ll definitely be stopping by all of their booths. And one of these days, I’m gonna have to pick up one of Jordan Elise’s Horrible Adorables. They’re just too awesome not to.

This is Matt’s second year doing the Art Star Craft Bazaar and he is super excited! He will be releasing 5 new designs, which is the most he’s ever done at once with his own brand.

He was featured on Comcast/Xfinity On Demand for the month of February for an interview he did with the website Philly In Focus. Each month, their top 3 most popular videos are featured on On Demand under the “Get Local” section. Check it out here

For sneak peeks and updates, follow Wear Liberty on facebook and twitter.

May 7, 2013
3rd Ward Philadelphia

I’m so excited that 3rd Ward Philadelphia is finally open! For those of you that don’t know, 3rd Ward is a 27,000 Square foot space for creating really anything you could think of. They have so many cool classes you really won’t find anywhere else, like LED Millinery, Urban Farming, Digital Textile Design, and um the History of the Cocktail? Sign me up! I have not actually visited the space yet, but I hope to take a tour soon to check it out. They run tours every half hour between 1 and 5pm all week.

After perusing the site I am most excited about the Drink & Draw evenings. There is one tonight from 8-10:30 and for $10 at the door you can kick back, drink some beers and draw. What better way to unwind? Just bring your drawing materials and they will provide the beer and model. I have been looking for a space in Philly that offers this with not much luck. I really need to brush up on my drawing skills and drawing from a live model is the best way to do it! I can’t make it tonight, but I am hoping this will be a regular thing for them.

Also, I am a novice when it comes to design and it would really help us at the shop if I could gain a few more skills. Intro to Illustrator or Photoshop 2 might be a good place to start! It would be a dream to learn Photo Etching on Copper, Upholstery, Enameling……..I want to learn how to make everything! To me there is nothing more satisfying then making something entirely from scratch. I can’t wait to see what other classes will be added to their roster.

I also wanted to share that they recently asked Erin and I to be judges for a contest they are running called Learn.Make.Inspire. They are asking people to share what they are learning, making, or what they are inspired by. Learn more here for your chance to win some cash, class credit or for your submission to be included in a culminating exhibition at 3rd Ward. We are so excited to see all the submissions and honored that we were asked to be a part of it!

And to all you local makers, they are looking for teachers. Sounds like a great opportunity to make some extra cash and become a part of an organization that may just become a creative epicenter in Philadelphia.

June 12, 2013
Art Star Holiday Market Shopping Guide for 11/29

We cannot believe that the Art Star Holiday Market is now LESS than a week away! I’ve put together some eye candy to get you pumped and ready to shop. These are the artists you will find on opening day – Friday, November 29th from 11-8pm. And remember, the mix of vendors will be changing each day, so keep coming back!!

Black Heart Letterpress makes cheeky greeting cards, coasters, and bookmarks. Expect some great letterpress holiday cards too!

Bregga + Co makes impeccably well made leather wallets and card holders. Any of his items would make perfect gifts for the special dudes in your life.

Cutesy but not Cutesy has been a staple at all our shows throughout the years. She makes the most adorable plush monsters that I am sure you all know and love by now. These monster hoodies are her latest hit – they just got a full spread in Real Simple Magazine! Go Diane!

Endless Hats are another craft bazaar regular. Their hats are extremely well made from recycled textiles and like their name states, their styles seem to be endless. I’m sure they will have a ton of cozy winter hats to warm your noggin while you ice skate.

Fabric Horse makes top notch bags, utility belts, lock holsters and more for the lady or gent on the go. My hubby got me one of these superhero utility belts in my favorite colors – pinks/reds/oranges and it is seriously my most prized possession b/c it hold everything – cell phone, wallet, keys, tools, bike lock, etc.

Fuzzy Ink makes the best silkscreened T-shirts, hoodies, cell phone covers + more. His illustrations are quirky, cute and typically involve a mustache or two. I am in love with this new barber shop quartet T. So many dudes on my holiday list would appreciate this.

Julie Moon is currently a resident artist over at my old stomping grounds – The Clay Studio. She is originally from Toronto and makes incredible ceramic sculpture. We carry her line of jewelry and skulls at the shop, which is what you will most likely see from her at the holiday market. I just added the above Tribal Necklace to the website- it is one of my favorite pieces in the shop right now!

This Totes Amazeballs bag is made by local master printmaker, Marisha Simons. Marisha teaches various printing classes at the University of the Arts and is in the midst of rolling out a line of products that will be debuting at the Art Star Holiday Market. Expect beautifully printed cards, totes, mugs, table runners, dishes and more!

Erin & I have both been huge fans of Megan Auman’s jewelry for years now, so we were tickled pink when she accepted our invitation to participate in the market. Megan has both her BFA + MFA in metalsmithing, so you know her jewelry pieces are built to last. Pick up a bold statement piece like the necklace pictured or opt for a simpler leaf design in sterling silver or steel. She also makes a line of vibrant pillows and scarves in fabrics she also designs – girl does it all!

Mimi McPartlan is a new artist for us. She is from Cape Cod and is currently a resident artist at The Clay Studio as well. She received her BFA from Alfred University and worked at Klein Reid in Brooklyn before coming to Philly. She makes stunning slip cast ceramic work. Expect modern and well designed functional pieces like mugs, plates, cream + sugar sets, butter dishes and more!

Another craft bazaar regular, Peg + Awl, will be set up selling their ever expanding line of reclaimed wood housewares and accessories, hand bound leather journals, jewelry and more. Margaux and Walter Kent are the husband/wife duo behind this incredibly popular handmade brand. What I love about them is that all of their items were first made for themselves and their two little boys to use in their daily lives. That in itself makes each piece truly authentic and really made with love.

Stay tuned for my Shopping Guide for 11/30 + 12/1, which includes a new mix of artists!
www.holidaymarket.artstarphilly.com

November 23, 2013

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