Etsy Handmade Portrait - Recycled!

Check out Etsy's Handmade Portrait of Reiter8 which was re-edited and shown on NYC Channel 25 recently. Just goes to show that nearly anything can be recycled!!


NYC Channel 25 is my new favorite go to for the inside scoop on NYC - they have great shows and features. Take a look at their online content if you are not in the viewing area.

PBS Off Book: Expanding the Definition of Art

Check out the latest video installment from PBS Off Book on Etsy Art and Culture.

Reiter8 was lucky enough to be featured along side the fabulous Alyssa Zygmunt, from BROOKLYNrehab and the enlighted (couldn't help it) Allison Patrick, from zipper8lighting.

Vanessa Bertozzi, Director of Community & Education at Etsy speaks about Etsy's outlook and approach to art. She says at Etsy they don't consider there to be a hierarchy where fine artists are on a different level than those create accessible art or who craft. I do love that Etsy is not a curated site and that it's so accessible from both ends: those who create and those who are looking for creations.

I do think that there is validity and skill to expressing your creativity in any of the vast array of mediums available and that when you do that you are an artist. What do you think?

Brooklyn Renegade '10

Hey, hey! It's the Renegade! The 6th Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn is this weekend: June 5 + 6 from 11am – 7pm in McCarren Park. The fair will go down Rain or Shine.

It's FREE-TO-ATTEND! It's a craft, art, design and DIY spectacular and has over 300 of today’s finest indie-craft talents from all over the nation, free workshops, entertainment + other features!

My booth number is 208 and it's on the Lorimer Street side.

Hope to see you there!

Clay, Wood & Cotton

I'm delivering some recycled sail bags and pillows to Clay, Wood & Cotton today! Upcycling handmade mavens Kristen (Cakehouse) and Kristy (Beacon Bookmarks) have joined forces and opened a lovely shop at 149 Main Street in Beacon, NY which is full of handmade goods.

Crafts Night is every Thursay from 7-9 pm. You bring your project and they will supply the snacks! They also host classes. Check here for more info. Getting to Beacon is easy from from NYC by car or train: Check here for directions

Spring hours are:
Weekends 11:00 am - 7 pm
Weekdays 11:00 am - 6 pm (Closed Tuesdays)
Thursday: 11:00 - 9pm

Brooklyn Renegade '10

I'm excited to share that Reiter8 will back at the 'Renegade' this year!

Mark your calendars for this year's Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair at McCarren Park on June 5/6 from 11-7.

It'll Be Divine

Just in:
I'll be at the Holiday Craft Sale at Divine Studios this Sunday, December 13 from 11-6. Organized by Marcie McGoldrick, a talented ceramist and Editorial Director for Holiday and Crafts at Martha Stewart Living, this event promises a unique mix of quality handmade gifts perfect for everyone on your list.

Divine studios is located on the 6th floor at 21 East 4th Street at Lafayette in Manhattan. View map.



Thanks to Jane at Foxy & Winston for the tip. She'll be there too with her sweet holiday card sets, organic children's clothing and more!

Come by, shop and say hello!

Glenn Robinson - NYer of the Week!

Congrats to Glenn Robinson, founder of Bags for the People (BFTP) for being named this week's NYer of the Week by NY1.

'Glenn Robinson used to sell vegetables at the stand in the Union Square and hand them over to customers in tens of thousands of plastic bags.

"We were giving out plastic bags left and right and it just seemed like a problem to me and I was part of the problem, I was actually handing them out," says Robinson.

So five months ago, Robinson started making cloth bags to give to people at the stand. The idea took off and he started the organization "Bags For The People," which holds sewing workshops for the public and in schools.'

With sewing machines fueled by solar panels, Glenn is sewing live at farmers markets. Find the full schedule here. Whether permitting he'll be at Union Square Farmers Market today, Saturday, August 22 sewing from 10:00 - 2:00. BFTP will be sewing and giving away bags in conjunction with the soon to be released No Impact Man Documentary.




BFTP is a non profit and therefore depends on the generosity of people who can donate materials, time and funds. More on how you can support here.

Watch the full NY1 NYer of the Week video at NY1 online

ReadyMade Goes Nautical

ReadyMade is such an inpsirational magazine to flip through. Fun projects transforming readily available materials into useful objects and decor. And the June July issue in no exception.
Instructions for the sail insignia inspired duvet, pallet platform and strap rug are all in this issue.

Thank You, Zooguu!

Many, many thanks to Jen Gubicza who ran our booth at the Renegade Craft Fair. It's not easy prepping, hauling, setting up, single-handedly offering fantastic customer service for 8 straight hours, breaking down and hauling everything back home. But that's what Jen did for two days in a row.

It's been a pleasure getting to know Jen this year as we are studio mates. I highly recommend a visit to her website as I have witnessed the talent, creativity and drive behind her plush business Zooguu. Pictured above are some examples - don't be fooled by the cuteness - she also has monsters. Well, OK, they are cute, too.

Don't see what you're looking for? Jen will custom create a likeness of your pet, real or imagined.

Booked

Thanks to all who braved the indoors in lue of the beautiful weather outside on Saturday and made sail covered books with me at the Brooklyn Museum. I had a great time and thought your creativity and stick-to-it-atness was wonderful. (Those grommet pliers are ... uh... challenging at best!)

What a setting! To be in the Rubin Pavilion was better than battling the crowds at the nearby Botanic Gardens. Big thanks to to Alisa and the education staff for all their cheerful support. They donated posters from past exhibitions for us to use in the books - fun! I would definitely recommend these classes - keep your eyes on the Brooklyn Museums Calendar page for upcoming classes and events!

WIP: Brooklyn Museum Class prep

I'm so excited to make sail covered books over at the Brooklyn Museum tomorrow (sat) 4/25 from 2-4 pm. More specifics on the BM's site here. It's promised to be a beautiful day and the workshop will take place in the sun drenched Rubin Pavilion in the front lobby. It will be a treat!





Also today is Etsy Day! If your response was 'What's an Etsy" (pronounced like Betsy w/out the B) Just click here and explore the vast wonderfulness of handmade and vintage goodies. It can be overwhelming so use that handy search engine. Have fun!

Renegade '09

Oh, Yeah! Reiter8 will be at The Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn on June 6 + 7 from 11am - 7pm, at McCarren Park.

More info and booth number etc to follow.

Bustin' Out!

I'm so excited. Reiter8 will be at this years Bust Craftacular! I went last year to check it out and it's definately a one stop shopping handmade extravaganza. 200+ vendors, dj etc. Here are the vitals:

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008
10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street, NYC

Back to making more bags!

Counting Sheep

We enjoyed a ridiculously beautiful day yesterday at the NY State Sheep and Wool Festival at the Rhinebeck Fairgrounds. (I forgot my camera - the above photo is by Garret C. Lown.)

We hadn't been in a couple years and we entertained by the recent addition of Punkin Chuckin. Local school teams built giant catapults that hurled pumpkins (and water jugs in a warm up) at targets set up to 300 (?) feet away. They were awarded points for distance and accuracy.

My favorite vendor is Brooks Farm - the colors and quality they products is stunning.


The dog trials are great - amazing how focused those border collies are - make our dogs, 3 yr old rescued cock-a-poo litter mates, seem like toys in comparison because of how untrained and goofy they are.

The sheep competitions are educational - there's an ongoing commentary during the judging followed by a thoughtful explanation of placement by the judge. The paddocks are great for listening to the constant bleating and observing the range of breed in attendance.

That's really the tip of the iceberg - there's so much more - llamas, spinning, cooking, winetasting...check out the site for all the info. The festival is held on the 3rd weekend in October - mark your calendar for next year.

Party on!

Hot off the letterpress! Brooklyn based Acorn Letterpress has created the most stunning limited edition election themed invitations.

"they make a snazzy way to get out the vote before the election, or to congratulate - or commiserate with - your fellow partisans afterwards. They also make a fun gift for your favorite Democrat or Republican."

Simply love 'em.
Buy 'em here

Another Round, Please!

If you thought you missed out on the Nie Nie Benefit on Etsy, you have a second chance!

There will be one more sale today at 7PM PST.

See last weeks posts for more info.

MAD on a rainy day

Although Improve Everywheres's MP3 event will be held rain or shine, if you want to avoid the rain drops altogether today you might head over to the Museum of Art and Design's grand public opening at their new location at 2 Columbus Circle.

The featured exhibit is Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary opens today and runs through February 15, 2009.
(Pictured above:Tara Donovan, Bluffs, 2007, Buttons, glue, Photo: Kerry Ryan McFate)

Museum hours are 10-5 and admission is FREE for this weekend.
(The website actually says 10-6 in one place and 10-5 in another)

If you go, I would love to hear your thoughts and reactions to the space and exhibit.

Even closer to home is Dumbo's Art Under the Bridge

The Annual Art Under the Bridge Festival is the single largest urban forum for experimental art in the United States, transforming the distinctive waterfront neighborhood into a multi-sensory public art arena. The event involves the participation of approximately 1,500 artists from all disciplines of visual art and attracts over 150,000 visitors to the neighborhood of Dumbo each year.

So many choices, so little time!

Let's Talk

Poppytalk Handmade is an online marketplace that changes over monthly according to theme. This months the market is 'School Days' runs from Aug 11th - Sept 5. (OK, so mark me as tardy, but I have a good excuse!)

Anyway - check 'em out - lots of great vintage finds and paper goods. I'm a sucker for globes and here's one from White Elephant with a great stand.



And another from katie runnels:

And here's one more from deadbird finds:


While you're there sign up for their magazine style newsletter here (scroll down a bit and look on the left to sign up). It's a treat in your inbox with lovely finds and a manageable 'craft' project.
Mondays are a little tough but receiving the newsletter gets me off to a great start. Thanks Poppytalk!

Hanging Out

Been admiring these ceramic boat cleats from fellow Brooklynite Debbie Delong from DeLong Ceramics for some time now. They are simply lovely and of course I am partial to the nautical theme. She also creates a beautiful series of Flora and Fauna tiles. Nice.

To Flea or not to Flea?

No question at all: To Flea!

The Brooklyn Flea seems to be under some scrutiny by a few of it's neighbors. Eric Demby, Flea Founder has been nothing but courteous and accommodating from what I see and hear as a vendor. Always reminding us vendors in his communications to clean up and that church toilets are not for the public's use. Eric seems to always be aware of making good by the neighbors.

There is a community meeting tomorrow night Thursday 7/24 at 7 p.m. at the Queen of All Saints' Roman Catholic Church at Lafayette and Vanderbilt. I will not be able to attend because I have already committed to attend Summer in the City Salon Series: Connect / (Dis)Connect at the Craft Council.