Tag: art star

Meet The Maker: Melanie Hasan of Modest Transitions

Hi, my name is Melanie. I am the founder and botanical dyer of Modest Transitions. I get to share this wonderful experience with my husband Nur. After giving birth to our son, I was encouraged by my husband to attend Moore College of Art and Design for continuing education in fashion design. I took a course in sustainability and immediately was exposed to how wasteful we are to our planet. In that moment, I wanted to find a better and Eco-friendly way to wear hijab comfortably and create positive conversation on how one article of clothing separates people. So, I decided, “Why not build UNITY with ALL-EMBRACING scarves?”

Modest Transitions was created to reflect my transition into modesty. It is eye-opening to see that a scarf can separate groups of people and create adversity in our world. Modesty is not defined as a religious garment, article of clothing, or oppression. Modesty is a behavior, an impression of yourself and how you define your hidden beauty and self-love within the world. Therefore, Modest Transitions is for the modest woman that strives to be confident within her own transition.

All of our products are handmade and botanically hand-dyed locally in the Northwest and Southwest sections of Philadelphia in our home studio and shared studio space at Mt. Airy’s own Handcraft Workshop.

Our products are imperfectly beautiful designed using upcycling and zero-waste techniques. My inspiration comes from the season, the integrity of the plant and the color yield. Dyeing with plants is just like cooking…it’s a trial and error process. And sometimes errors create the most beautiful color combinations.

Many of our fabrics are upcycled and sustainably derived from natural fibers such as hemp, bamboo, cotton, and lyocell. We use absolutely everything for current and future projects! I get much joy from dyeing with plant dyes because of the conversation it generates. Many people are stunned that you can dye and eco-print fibers with simple things in your kitchen such as onions, avocados, beets, the list goes on. A common question: Will my scarf smell like onions? Haha.

I am so excited to be joining Art Star for the first time this year during the Holiday Bazaar. Come by and say hello! We would love to meet you! Our products are available for purchase online at www.modesttransitions.com. We are always creating new products. Follow us on Instagram @modesttransitions for all the latest!

November 12, 2019
Meet the Maker: Damian and Jenn Liddiard of Treeline & Tide

We’re Damian and Jenn Liddiard, the creative minds and hands behind Treeline & Tide. With a background in architecture (Damian) and graphic design (Jenn), we are a husband-and-wife team creating everyday goods that are both innovative and timeless. Beginning with Jenn’s hand-drawn designs and using sustainably-forested wood, our process fuses traditional craft techniques with technology.

We’ve been designing together since we first met, but it wasn’t until 2012 when Jenn began making jewelry part-time at a fabrication lab, that our creative partnership started growing into a business. It was a gradual process; Jenn left her job in order to spend time with our young kids and commit to her creative passion full-heartedly. Within a few years’ time, Damian was able to leave his job as well. Today, Treeline & Tide is a natural extension of how we’ve always lived; working and creating together in our home studio.

We’re designers first, so we immerse ourselves in a product’s every little detail. We create each item envisioning it as a gift in everyday life – whether it’s for an anniversary, a thank you for groomsmen or bridesmaids, or simply something special for you. To continue the cycle of giving, we partner with One Tree Planted to support reforestation – one tree is planted for every product sold.

You can find our work in over 70 stores nationwide, on our website www.treelineandtide.com, and at the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar for the first time! Follow us on Instagram @treelineandtide to see everything we’re up to.

November 15, 2018
Meet the Maker: Emily Uchytil

Hi! My name is Emily Uchytil. I am an oil painter based out of Baltimore, Maryland. I create paintings on vintage wallpaper that are inspired by my interest in ecology, entomology, and patterns.

I studied painting, illustration, and art history at the Hartford Art School in Hartford, CT and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Shortly after, I moved to Baltimore to live and work in an artist collective space called The Whole Gallery. It was there that I met my partner, Michel Anderson, a fellow artist and photographer. We both have spent a good amount of time traveling and living abroad but we found ourselves continually drawn to the creative scene in Baltimore. We took this as a sign and decided to set roots here.

In 2012, I came across a substantial supply of vintage wallpaper in an old dancehall in Thomas, West Virginia that quickly became my new canvas. My goal is to remove natural subjects from their native habitats and place them into an inherently human space; positioned as if they are posing for a portrait session in front of decorative, man-made wallpaper. My hope is to inspire people to celebrate the beautiful life forms around us and their significant role in our lives. You can check more of my work at www.emilyuchytil.com or on instgram, @emuchytil.

Over the years I maintained a strong studio practice while making a living with alternative sources of income (bar tending, serving, teaching). Ten years after graduating from college I took the leap into painting full time. I feel lucky to have the support of a solid network of friends who are also creating art full time which has given me the confidence to take on the business and marketing side of art as well, which to my surprise, i quite like! My studio is located at the Hooper Mill building in Historic Woodberry, located right near an entrance to Druid Hill park.

I look forward to vending at Art Star’s 2018 Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar. I’ll be at booth #56. Come say hi!

November 12, 2018
Meet the Maker: Jessee Maloney of Art School Dropout

Hello! My name is Jessee and I am the sole owner and operator of Art School Dropout. I have been in this position for 16 years now with a few interruptions here and there. I have an issue sticking to just one kind of product or technique, but no matter what the style is the same. I just really enjoy learning and am constantly adding new skills to my arsenal. You name the art or craft and I have probably tried it.

I took a break from my shop for a few years to work as a professional quilter for major fabric companies and as a online educator for sewing machine and craft gadget companies. It was a lot of fun for awhile, but it never felt like I was doing what i really loved.

During that time I also joined a makerspace and was taught how to use a laser cutter, 3D printers, and many other pieces of equipment. I realized I was a full on maker, not just a crafter or a quilter or whatever other label i was given. It became my new favorite thing to do and it slowly pushed me back to my original path which was making brightly colored jewelry and accessories.

So here I am now, making jewelry almost non stop as well as a few sewn items here and there. I have since bought my own laser cutter and am constantly amazed at what it can do. I am beyond excited to be a vendor at the Holiday Art Star Bazaar. It’s been many years since I have done any Art Star shows and I’ve always enjoyed them.

Visit Art School Dropout’s website to purchase her goods and follow her on Instagram

November 8, 2018
Upcoming Exhibition: Hoots and Howls

We are thrilled to announce our next exhibition which features a handful of some of our favorite Art Star artists. The show is titled “Hoots and Howls” and each artist is including a couple original pieces that are woodland themed and explore all things related to nature. You can expect to see starry night skies, wooded hideaways, animals both real and imagined, rolling hills, forests thick with trees, and more, in a variety of styles and mediums. Escape and enjoy the magic of the woods!

Participating artists include:
Inés Chapela
Jen Corace
Faryn Davis (art titled “Northern” pictured above)
Aaron James Powers
Sarah Ryan
Julianna Swaney
Kerry & Neil Stavely
Squirrel Tacos
Whittled Inklings by Alisha Baker

September 8th through November 4th, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 8th, 6-8pm

August 14, 2018
Meet The Maker: Devin McNutt of Saffron Creations

Hello my name is Devin and I’m the maker behind Saffron Creations. I work from my home studio in the Germantown section of Philadelphia where I live with my husband and two sons. I design and create jewelry from vintage tins that were manufactured in the 1960s and 70s in England to store items such as tea and cookies.

The very first time that I cut up a tin was about eleven years ago, when I had been making various types of “regular” jewelry for a while. I had a lovely purple Art Deco tin that belonged to my maternal grandmother and got the wacky idea to utilize the gorgeous patterns by turning it into jewelry. A few frightening moments later (wondering if I was just destroying a sentimental treasure!) I realized that it works! It works really well. And that was the beginning of my journey as Saffron Creations.

I start by cutting the tin canisters into flat sheets using metal shears, then with my ever growing collection of steel disc cutters, I hammer out little bits here and there that speak to me. Each piece of tin is then carefully filed, sanded shaped and drilled. I utilize “cold connections” which is a jewelers term for connecting pieces of metal without using a torch, as the heat would destroy the colors and patterns on the tin. I incorporate a lot of forged sterling silver and brass wire into my designs, which compliments the sometimes intricate tin instead of competing with it.

When I cut up a tin I marvel at it’s beauty and get SO excited for a glimpse into it’s next life as jewelry. I use every little piece that I can and the bits that I don’t use get recycled. Instead of this particular 4 inch tall vintage tea tin (above) collecting dust on one person’s kitchen shelf it will be loved, admired and worn out in the world by 30+ people. Customers often ask where I find my tins and it’s a long answer because I have many sources. I search the usual places like rummage sales, flea markets and antique malls, but after running Saffron Creations for so long, family, friends and customers have caught on and bring me loads of tins on a regular basis. It’s like having a fleet of “tin spotters” and I’m so grateful. I also have a handful of patterns that are my best sellers and those tins I source on Ebay or Etsy.

2018 will be my 6th (!) year returning to the Art Star Craft Bazaar and it’s one of my absolute favorite local events. Each year I discover new makers from all over the country and bring home at least one little gift for myself. Visit me in booth number 65. Just look for my bright and colorful tent display!

Follow Saffron Creations:
https://www.instagram.com/saffroncreations/
https://www.saffron-creations.com

May 8, 2018
Meet The Maker: Jennifer Manzella of JLManzella Prints

*Photo Credit: Ben Pelta-Heller

I’m a local artist, printmaker and educator and I just moved back to Philadelphia after over a decade in Athens, Georgia where I received an MFA in printmaking from The University of Georgia. I love living in this city! I now live in South Philadelphia and I make prints at a studio called BYO Print, a print cooperative located in Sharktown studios in Old Kensington/Fishtown. As a member of BYO I have access to presses, etching mordants, screen-printing supplies and other print related equipment. The medium size Charles Brand etching/relief press is the piece of equipment I use the most in the studio.

The process of printmaking informs my imagery. I work mainly in relief printing with woodblock and linoleum. Sometimes I use a color reduction process where I print all the colors from one block, carving each one away as I print, while other times I print a single image with multiple blocks. The process of relief printing is one of the oldest forms of making multiple images. For me, it usually starts with a sketch directly onto the block. The next step is carving the block where a lot of changes can happen to the imagery. The space around the image is carved so that what is printed is raised, therefore it is in “relief”. Rolling ink over the block with a brayer then inks that raised surface, which is printed by placing paper on top of the inked block and applying pressure. I use a press that allows an even amount of pressure to transfer the ink to the paper.

When printing multiple blocks, I use transparent additives in my ink to create layered colors and gradients. It’s important to use some sort of registration technique to align each of the blocks on the paper, therefore, I use a registration jig to hold the paper in the same place each time I print a different block.

I draw a lot of inspiration from traditional Japanese woodblock prints of the 17th and 19th century and I’m interesting in the intersection between urban and natural landscapes. My own photos are often the source material for the drawings and prints I make and sometimes I’ll combine elements from several different pictures to make something completely new.

Rarely do I have a fully formed plan of how the prints are going to work out because in the process of printmaking there is quite a bit of unpredictability. I work with my mistakes and sometimes rework my blocks. Because I often work in layers it’s hard to know exactly how colors are going to print on top of each other. Pulling the print after carving, mixing colors and printing is the most exciting part.

You can explore more of my print work on my website: www.jlmanzella.net or follow me on instagram @j.l.manzella. My prints will be on sale at the upcoming Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend at the Event Space at SugarHouse Casino.

November 14, 2017
Meet the Maker: Nicolette Absil

Hi, my name is Nicolette. I’m a full time studio jeweler and enamelist whose studio is based in the Old Kensington area of Philadelphia, PA. I create jewelry that features hand drawn, nature inspired imagery on enamel. I show my work across the US at craft shows, galleries, and retailers, including Art Star!

From botanical gardens, to state parks, to the plant life peaking through the cracks in the cement in the city – I’m influenced by nature. Currently, I adore drawing flowers. I’m drawn to their gestural forms, their textures, and serene feelings flowers invoke. Most of my work starts with a drawing from life or photo I’ve taken.

Each piece is hand drawn or painted on enamel. Enameling is a technique where I fuse powdered glass to copper in a kiln at temperatures close to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. After I draw the imagery, the enamel piece is fused again in the kiln. Each piece I work on usually goes through 5 or more firings from start to finish before becoming a finished piece! I then fabricate settings for the enamel work out of sterling silver, or sometimes gold, creating wearable artwork.

I love that I am able to combine my illustrations with such a traditional, historical technique like enameling to create future heirloom quality jewelry. I like the idea that my work might someday be handed down through generations and live longer than I will. I’m excited to be showing at the Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar this month and I hope you’ll come check out my work in Booth 5!

http://nicoletteabsil.com/home.html
https://www.instagram.com/nicoletteabsil/
https://squareup.com/store/nicolette-absil-studios

November 9, 2017
Meet The Maker: Rebecca + Danielle of Remark Glass

Hi! This is Rebecca and Danielle from Remark Glass. We use bottle glass to make hand blown dinnerware, barware, and home furnishings.

Remark’s studio is located in the Bok building in South Philly. We’ve been working together alongside some close friends since 2015 to design and produce our recycled glass line of work.

We started working with bottle glass because it is an untapped resource, a unique design opportunity, and a sustainable and energy efficient way to accomplish our glass blowing dreams. Now we collect bottles from neighbors, friends, and local businesses to give them a new life as beautiful and functional everyday wares.

Our process is different than that of a typical glassblowing studio. First, we hand select what bottles we are transforming. They get de-labeled, cleaned, and often cut to a shorter height on a diamond saw depending on the final shape we are aiming to achieve. We pre-heat the glass in a kiln to make it malleable. Once it is “warm” (1050 degrees fahrenheit), we then pick up the bottle glass on the end of a steel rod or pipe to heat it further and transform it using traditional glassblowing techniques.

This process is used to take one bottle at a time up to 2000 degrees to spin it, blow air into it, and shape it with tools to shift the glass into its final form.

You can find our products online at remarkglass.com and at a lot of local events in Philadelphia. We’re excited to be joining Art Star at Sugarhouse in a couple weeks and look forward to meeting you there. Come find us in booth 23 and bring us some bottles if you’d like! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram @remarkglass and Facebook @remarkglass to see new designs fresh out of the oven and where you can find us for live demos and sales!

November 6, 2017
Meet the Maker: Tasha McKelvey

Hello, my name is Tasha McKelvey. I’m a ceramic artist from Richmond, Virginia. I create a line of functional and decorative small-scale pottery inspired by my travels, tiny cottages, forest and gardens.

I also have a line of Holiday ornaments inspired by the my visits to European Christmas Markets. Where hand-crafted Holiday ornaments, toys, treasures and delicious treats abound. For hundreds of years, the Christmas Markets have been bringing a spirit of warmth and light to the darkest part of the year. I’ve been inspired by these Winter festivals to create special ornaments that convey a feeling a coziness and to celebrate the idea of home.

I’ll be at the Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar at table #66!

November 2, 2017