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the jewelry smithing class is now in session

we had our first jewelry smithing class yesterday!

4 hours of pure fun!

lets just start by saying that one of the two sisters is more patient than the other with a saw hahaha

we got acquainted with a ton of cool tools (I had serious tool envy and now want one of each at my place) Then we practiced sawing techniques on a thin brass plate... we had to do straight lines, zigzags and curves

i'm a pro at lines

i broke 4 saw blades hahaha

we got to play with a saw, files, sandpaper, a rotary tool that can, amongst other things, cut through brass, calipers, and all sorts of tools i cant remember the name (in French) so i don't know the name (in English)

next week and the two following we will be doing RINGS!!!

i decided my ring would be a large band, and my sister will be doing a thin band, so we can compare notes afterwards

as soon as its done, i'll post pictures!

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i've got moo!

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indie find of the moment: Maki Squarepatch

Shop name: Maki Squarepatch
Shop address: http://www.makisquarepatch.etsy.com/
In a nutshell: recycling pre-loved apparels into new stuffs
Tell us a bit about yourself :
Maki Squarepatch is the joint effort of sisters Enqi (boss) and Xin (artist). Together, we built and run Maki Squarepatch to not only encourage people to appreciate the loves behind handmade products, but also to show people that recycling can be colorful, full of life, reflecting memories and tenderness from each individual creation.
Trashion materials: pre-loved clothing, unwanted fabrics, collected buttons & zippers etc.
I transform them into: stitchy-patchy pouches, pencil cases, blankets, toys, cushions, blouses, tees.
How do you do it?
First by picking out clothes that we would like transformed into something else, and what material is easy to work with. And from there, cutting-stitching-more cutting-more layering of colors, sometimes fabric-painting to get the effects we want in each product.
What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
We were both inspired by our grandmother, who was not only a super thrifty lady, but who appreciates and enjoys the art and craft. She would collect scrap fabrics and sew table cloths for the house. Also, she NEVER threw away her childrens' clothing, and that influenced us a lot in the practice of: as little wastage as possible, and to cherish what we own.
Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
What was it?
Xin: It was 3 dolls made using (only) one baby's Christening gown.
What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Our current projects include some preparation for a new series of products which involves the folding of cloth like paper origami, as well as making new blouses from discarded scrap fabrics donated by the local boutiques (we’re in Singapore!).
Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
If everyone buys handmade, there will be little use of energy for the mass production of goods. Of course, we cannot buy handmade tv or computers, but if everyones' wardrobe or daily needs are 5/10 handmade by an individual/group of artists, there will be no need for so much power to churn and upkeep factory machineries. And if 5/10 of these handmade are recycled, we are helping out the environment and starting a chain that is of no damage or cause for more pollution.

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autumn harvest

its that time of year again

i harvested all my herbs and will dry them

I'm cooking up a batch of spaghetti sauce this week so its just in time :)

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ceramic love

My kitchen is filled with vintage ceramics i purchased through out the years...

This is my latest ceramic crush. I've had it for ages but i just redecorated so i sort of rediscovered it :)

I use it to drink my Turkish coffee

Its only half of it, my sister has the other half... I think she has a large pitcher instead of the tea pot, a butter dish instead of the milk pitcher and.... well i don't remember :)

Its not signed or dated so it's probably home made instead of factory made

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raku bowl... could there be more pictures?

why, yes, there could! :)

next Tuesday I'm starting a jewelry smithing class, and I'm super stoked, but i must admit, I'd be as thrilled if it was a pottery class.... and i think that's my class I'll be taking for the winter semester!

I'm still struggling with it though because its obviously so not eco friendly... more info on my internal debate to come ;)

here are more pics of my little ole bowl

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a family affair

crafting is a family affair

here we are taking apart unwanted or broken vintage jewelry, to make new and better items afterwards

we have so much fun when we do crafts together... and usually my sister cuts herself real bad and we hesitate to bring her to the hospital, too :)

our mom is the one who really got us into the handmade craze

Here she is pretending we slave-labour her on week-ends

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raku class

so this week is turning out to be "pottery fetish 101" on my blog hahaha

i took a small but fun raku glaze class

here are some pictures of the event

first, there are the white blank bowls haha

then, there is the dipping

we had 3 glazes available, one white crackly and two multi-coloured iridescent finishesdip!

it doesn't look like much when its not cooked

my sister's

any part not coated will turn black

mine

then, there is the cooking

waiting to be cooked

it took about half an hour

fresh out of the kiln!

then, they cool it down in sawdust

and then they cool it down some more in water

it comes out cool but dirty

dirty!

so we scrub it with a coarse scrubbing thingy (official term, i swear hahaha)

and tad-ah! we have a raku decorative bowl

the one in the middle is mine

the one on top is my sister's

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before-and-after after he left me - kitchen . cuisine

Here are more pictures of my extreme make-over, appartment edition :)

I love my kitchen, its the main reason i rented the appartment in the first place

From noon till sunset, its filled with sunlight, and it leads to the best place in the world, my miniature garden!

Here it is before

As you can see, there is no diner table... I temporarely used my mini patio table... not very practical ;)

Here it is after

There's my beautiful new kitchen table that my cat has unfortunately adopted

Its nice and clean, i have a lot of counter space and cabinets. I LOVE my kitchen :)

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indie find of the moment: Susy Jack*

Shop name: Susy Jack
Shop address: http://www.susyjack.etsy.com/
Blog: http://www.susyjack.blogspot.com/

In a nutshell:
Paper. Pattern. Pleasure.
SusyJack makes fun, contemporary paper products with patterns that aim to delight and refresh.

Tell me a little about yourself ...
I began as a graphic designer and painter and have always had a love for product and handmade items. This spring, I decided to devote less of my time to client work, and more time to my own designs. I live in Boston and spend a great deal of time in New York as well, so many of my designs are inspired by what I see in the city....abstract art, architecture, grafitti....tempered with an organic style.

What are your favourite materials?
I love anything with a basic look-- raw canvas, kraft paper, newsprint, chip-board. I love it when a basic material can be combined with something more eyecatching and unexpected like a flowing design, hand-lettering, a gestural mark or a metallic ink.

What do you transform them into:
The goal with SusyJack items is to get paper products to the point where they look considered, but still spontaneous. So, I create alot of simple journals, cards, and gift tags. I am also working on some mounted prints.

How do you do it?
Generally, I create the designs in my head, sometimes after a busy day they come to me as I'm falling asleep. Then, I usually sketch them out by hand or draw them on my Apple. For example, the blank Journal in blue mesh came into my head while I was looking at a chain link fence in Manhattan. The te amo card popped into my head when I was looking at grafitti on the train.

What inspired you to do this?
I have always loved abstract art. I have a hard time getting representational! And, I love the power of gestural line and the groundedness of pattern. Also, I have always dreamed of styling my own line of products, so I thought why not do it?

Do you remember the first thing you made? What was it?
Hm....no. I've been making things since I can remember. Art and creativity have always been a force for me...I am lucky that has been the case. Being creative is something I take as a given-- not something I had to come across. It's a very fundamental part of me that I try always to nourish.

What's new and exciting in your store?
Hm....well, my whole store on etsy is basically new, and new designs are beign added all the time! Currently, I am working on a few new journals, and some mounted prints. There will also be afew surprises of SJ patterns applied to other types of items!

What is your favourite item? And why?
My favorite item of mine is the Burst Notebook. Every time I look at it, the shape makes me happy. There's just something about it.
On Etsy....god, there are so many. I tend to be pretty serious about my Favorites, so, probably anyone on that list is up there for inspriation as well as a reminder of what to buy eventually!


Can you give us a sneak peak of what's to come?

Check out my blog. There, I'm posting whatever experimental work I have going on. I'm also creating a flickr set for the same.
I can say this, I will be putting up some special "ones of a kind" which will be journals that have unique touches on each one!

Why should people buy handmade?
People should buy handmade because everybody wins.
Also, people should buy handmade as a reaction to the commodification of almost everything these days. Buying handmade also sends a message that Conglomerate Culture is not the only way. It reminds us of our humanity. It helps us take part in beauty. And, it's good for the soul!


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