3D Roadtrip!

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Over recent weeks, I've enjoyed reading about the adventures of Bilal Ghalib and Alex Hornstein who's Pocket Factory project I first learned about on the Make blog; two makers who are taking 3D printing on the road, travelling around the US as they run their 3D printers in the back of their Prius, selling the wears that they create. 

For anyone not familiar with the 3D printing movement, it is about relatively inexpensive machines that print extruded plastics from computer-designed models. It essentially allows an individual to create plastic parts that, even a decade ago, could be made only on machines that cost tens of thousands of dollars. 3D printing enthusiasts tend to be very excited about the possibilities of this technology, but at the same time the community tends to be a bit insular. The Pocket Factory project takes the technology out to flea markets and public spaces, to people who often have no idea that such a technology is possible. Bilal and Alex started out not knowing exactly what the reception would be (it's been everywhere from wildy excited to apathetic to a little hostile), or what ideas and business models would actually allow them to make money. It's been fascinating to follow their blog and read about their adventures.

12: A Field Guide to Tape

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photo by Beebee
Issue 12 has a fun article called "A Field Guide to Tape". Written by our youngest contributor so far, I met Beebee at last summer's Renegade fair in LA. I had been planning this article for a while, but after seeing Beebee's blog and zines, I thought she would do a nice job on the topic of tapes. She's quite an expert!

As editor, one of the exciting and fulfilling things about UPPERCASE is inviting people who have never been published before to contribute in one way or another. (It doesn't matter that you're not a "real" writer or "professional" artist—if you show passion and talent, that's all I need.)

photo by BeebeeHere's a closer view of the illustration by Michael Mateyko that accompanies the article. I love how his Scotch tape pattern makes a great suit for this snail/tape creature.

illustration by Michael Mateyko

Lotta's washi tape (and an idea...)

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Lotta Jansdotter has her own sets of patterned washi tape. With a huge following in Japan, this makes perfect sense!

Well before seeing these, Glen had the brilliant idea that I should make the UPPERCASE patterns that appear on the magazine spines into washi tape. Wouldn't that be lovely! Is UPPERCASE-y washi tape something that you would like? Let me know in the comments!

some of the pretty spines of UPPERCASE magazine

w.i.p.s wednesday: Hooking Rugs by Deanne Fitzpatrick

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images submitted by Deanne Fitzpatrick to the wips poolI'm enjoying the diversity of submissions to the Work-in-Progress Society group pool. These process shots of hooking rugs by Deanne Fitzpatrick are interesting. I especially like her painterly approach and looking at the rugs closeup to admire the colour, texture and detail.

If you'd like to learn how to hook a rug, visit Deanne's extensive website, sign up for a workshop in her Amherst, Nova Scotia studio or purchase a dvd, kit or supplies from her shop.

 

Mother

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A new clothing line of simple sewn aprons, smocks, collars and totes by knitting wonderwoman Yokoo.

"Mother stems from the desire to rid the fashion world of the notion that modern feminism is the absence of femininity," she writes in her shop profile. "I wanted to design clothes for true feminist. Women who are not afraid to be women. Women who don't muster up the courage to say, "yes" but feel quite comfortable in the ease of saying, "no." Mother stands for an authoritative approach to femininity. In nature, the more unseen a power, the more of an authoritative the role."


Though quite austere in its styling (glamorized drugery in the French countryside?), anything that Yokoo (pictured above) does is something to pay attention to.

Textiles: Clara Vuletich at Harvest

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images from the Harvest blog
There's an intriguing collaboration going on down under: Clara Vuletich (profiled on one of the early issues of the magazine) has spending time at Harvest Textiles this month.

The residency will explore the concept of 'local textiles’. Clara hopes to combine her knowledge of sustainable textile print and dye processes with her interest in new forms of design and community activity that promote ‘home-grown’ knowledge/skills and encourage well-being.

"We live in a globalised world where most of our clothing, textiles and objects are made abroad and we are disconnected to the making of most of the products in our lives," says Clara. "How can we re-connect? The idea of ‘local’ has gained prominence in most urban cities with slow food, farmers markets, the sprouting of an urban agriculture movement and the re-emergence of independent retailers and companies, who offer us trust, loyalty and a sense of community. But what does this mean for textiles?"

(I'm excited to receive a package from Harvest to feature in issue #13.)

alt: shop sweet lulu

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photo by Jessie SeneseJessie of Shop Sweet Lulu was a tremendous help and excellent conference buddy. She provided the lovely polka dot cups that we used as tea light holders (easily and stylishly covering battery-operated candles that were scattered on the tabletops).

Candy cups

Paper straws

The photo area backdrop, made of tissue paper garlands, was also sourced by Jessie.

Looking for party decorations or something special for Valentine's Day? Look no further than Shop Sweet Lulu.

alt: centrepieces = necklaces

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Assembling the concept in my studio prior to the event
left: photo by Rambling Renovators, right: photo by Lindsay Thompson

from the Alt photo stream

For the mini party centrepieces, I wanted something colourful, simple, and something that could become an activity in itself. It also had to be compact and easily fit into my suitcase! After perusing the aisles at Michael's for a considerable amount of time, these wooden beads spoke to me. I thought they'd look so appealing en masse and would make a fun activity for the (mostly) gals attending Alt. I also bought some packages of the classic cube uppercase letter beads. Stringing together beaded necklaces is something I would like to do at a party!

(I pretty much designed a party that I would like to attend—one that would feel comfortable and entertaining. Something inclusive of everyone, a fun place to hang out, pretty but not too fancy as to be exclusive. Basically, a party for introverts!)

DIY holiday cards for perfectionists in a hurry

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A few weeks ago, I was asked to contribute to a post on eBay's online magazine, The Inside Source. As an avid eBayer (it lit fire to my typewriter addiction), I was happy to oblige. They wanted a handmade Christmas card idea, so I wanted to combine my typewriters, typography and something easy to make. 

an UPPERCASE typographic ornament

Here's a simple project for a greeting card that transforms into a tree ornament. Cut out a circle or other shape of your choosing so that it is slightly smaller than your folded card stock. Decorate the paper ornament with cut-up Christmas cards from years past, old wrapping paper or other pretty paper. I've used a page from a discarded dictionary. 

I decided to play on the idea of a "typographic ornament" by cutting out an uppercase initial for each recipient.

(Quick tip for perfectionists in a hurry: print out letters at the desired size from your printer, lay the printed letter on top of your decorative paper and simply cut around the letter, through both layers at one time.)

To attach the finished ornament to the greeting card, position the ornament on the card and use a small hole punch to pierce through the top of the ornament and right through the card. Make a loop out of pretty twine or ribbon and thread it through the holes, from the inside of the card outward. As long as the knot on the back of the loop is larger than the hole, everything will be held in place securely. Decorate the card with a typewritten or handwritten greeting and there you go! (I love to use my vintage typewriters—it is fun to type out a line of text the old fashioned way.) 

Laura Barnard 30x30

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UK-based illustrator Laura Barnard was getting bored with selling the usual digital prints, so she conceived of a new way of both motivating her creativity and skills while producing something for sale online. 30x30 is the just-released result. "There are 30 copies of each edition, and each one costs £30 shipped anywhere in the world. Once they're gone, they're gone." The first edition is a series of painted wooden blocks.

"The blocks are individually painted/drawn on — I wanted them to all be unique so thought that was the most sensible way to do it. Although that's a fairly hefty number of bricks to draw on (!) it's a small enough run to still be able to do by hand. I may not entirely hand draw Issue Two depending on what it is, but there's definitely some scope for some hand-finishing.

I've really enjoyed selling prints for the last couple of years, but I think illustration can be particularly exciting when it's applied to objects or surfaces, so the shop will be based more around that from now on. Keeping it fresh is important too, so that's why I'm only doing 30 of each. A fixed price of £30 keeps it interesting too — for me as much as anything!"

Laura is already looking forward to the next edition. "I've got a few ideas brewing for Issue Two — it won't be blocks but will be something similarly quirky and, er, objecty and interesting. Part of the fun of this is seeing how it'll evolve and the limited runs mean I can see what people are excited by and adjust accordingly."

I've signed up!

Owl costume

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It is a major triumph when I find/make time to sew something. Here is Finley's first Hallowe'en costume. It was fun to put together... I just made a vest that is large enough to fit over his winter jacket (it snowed this morning) and made some wings. The materials are remnant pieces I took from my mom's stash of leftover suiting material as well as some cut-up trousers from Glen. There's some French General linen that was part of a table centrepiece at The Creative Connection and some Fog Linen swatches that were part of an issue of Selvedge magazine. The brown ribbon is leftover from my wedding decorations and I think the piece of gold fabric was my grandma's. It's nice to have a variety pile of fabric on hand because if I had had to go out and buy this stuff I don't think the project would have happened at all. Hoo hoo hooray for all of us packrats!

Thank you, Paige!

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For those of you who have seen the dottie angel book in person, you can appreciate all the lovely tactile details that went into the book's production. In appreciation of our helpers (Ana, Erin, Paige, Kendra, Janice & Bonnie), Tif gave then each one of her embroidered chapter dividers and I wrapped up their books in some of the project remnants—vintage pillowcases that were too nice to cut up, some miscellaneous doilies and button cards. The parcel above was given to Calgary designer Paige Smith, who documented it with these great photographs.

Paige and I share a love of vintage things, flea markets and old typography (but our styles are different enough that we aren't coveting the same things when we go to the Sunnyside Flea Market, which is a good quality in a thrifting buddy!) I gravitate toward print and books, while Paige is always on the lookout for old china to make into her stunning ring and jewellery holders:

These holders are available in Anthropologie stores or you can custom-order one from her Etsy shop by selecting your favourite saucer.


Please visit Paige's blog and website for more inspirational images of her workspace, vintage finds and product photographs. And I would be remiss not to mention that she's also a talented web designer!

Nancy Straughan textiles + The Power of Making

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Nancy Straughan and her fashion and textiles
Textile designer Nancy Straughan recently introduced herself and her work via our suggestions link. (Thank you to everyone who is submitting their links and portfolios! Even if you don't hear from me right away, I look at all of it and put you in my visual file for later reference.) While perusing Nancy's blog, I came across her post of a video by the Victoria & Albert museum that I'd like to share with you as well.