Handmade Nation NY Premier!

Our trip to New York to see Handmade Nation was exhausting but very fun. Ashley (shown above waiting for the film to start) and I did so much chatting and walking yesterday that I had sore muscles and a gravelly voice this morning. After a four hour bus ride, we spent the next few hours walking around semi-aimlessly then had a frustrating time heading in the wrong direction on the subway.

Thankfully, we made it to the premier at the Museum of Art and Design on time. I am so glad that Ashley thought to buy our tickets beforehand because they were sold out when we arrived. The place was really bustling and everyone seemed so cheerful and excited about seeing this film. Once seated, we scanned the crowd for crafty celebrities. We recognized Julie of Your Secret Admiral, Danielle of Precious Pups, Christy of A. Bardis, Andrew Wagner from American Craft and Jenine of Jenine Bressner Fireworks. We also found out later that the woman seated behind us was Micaela O'Herlihy who did the filming for Handmade Nation. Neat! I probably would have traveled all the way to New York just to be in such good company! I found I was very curious about all the unidentified attendees. I suspect that every person in the audience was a maker of some kind and I wanted a profile (with links) floating above the heads of everyone seated around me.

The film was paired with a panel discussion led by Callie Janoff with Mandy Greer, Kate Bingaman-Burt and the director, Faythe Levine. The panel was full of infectious enthusiasm and I found myself smiling through the whole thing. The audience was allowed a few good questions (and one that made me secretly wish for a blow dart) and the second that the panel was over, we had to rush away to catch our bus home. I wish we could have lingered for a bit and mingled.

I am still glowing from the experience because the film and the atmosphere of the event was so joyful and optimistic. I relished being shown that my solitary crafting pursuits are part of something special and that the silly things I make are important on some level.

I'm on a field trip!

~This is the first time I've ever used the feature that allows you to publish a pre-written blog post sometime in the fuuuuuture. ~

I am probably in New York City right now. I am traveling by way of the chinatown bus and have packed snacks aplenty, my sketchbook, camera and "No One Belongs Here More Than You" by Miranda July. Hopefully, I have also convinced Justin to let me borrow his ipod and he has filled it with a special mix. Justin has a gift for mix-making.

I am with my friend Ashley and we are going to see Handmade Nation and maybe this show and hopefully we will be allowed to visit the Etsy Labs. The travel is a bit much for a day trip (Boston to NY) but I bet it will be worth the commute.

The image above is a Sublime Stitching pattern designed by Kate Bingaman-Burt for Handmade Nation.

A handful of fine things

Here are five things that I am especially happy about right now.

1. Tomorrow is the grand opening of the Cute Show at the ellO Gallery and I can't wait to see my work on display and meet the other artists. Ah, what to wear?

2. A new machine has debuted that is a self-contained screenprinting device much like the Gocco. It's called the YUDU and looks like it has the potential to satisfy me in some way after I run out of supplies for my beloved Gocco printer. This gives me hope.

3. Etsy and Apartment Therapy have teamed up for a new creative competition called "Do It Now!" which encourages everyone to finally tackle a small household project in a creative way. I have so many ideas for fixing up my place that I never start so I am glad for the little nudge. Actually, the possibility of winning a $250 Etsy shopping spree is kind of a big nudge. I've already begun to spruce up the entryway to our apartment.

4. I am going on a business/fun trip! My old friend Ashley (of Fern Animals) and I are headed to New York City next week for the premire of Handmade Nation and to hear a lecture by Faythe Levine. I can't wait!

5. I finally thought of a concept for my first attempt at zinemaking and, by popular request, it will be overflowing with bunny illustrations.

I'll elaborate on all these super things in other posts but I just felt like bursting and wanted to share. Let me know what you're especially overjoyed about and help keep this glee-bubble intact!