A Gathering of Stitches

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A Gathering of Stitches is a communal making space for textile and fibre artists located in Portland, Maine. Members can rent equipment and studio space and benefit from a community of fellow makers. You can even rent a "Fairy Godmother", most likely to be proprietor Samantha Hoyt Lindgren, to consult on your project and help you learn new equipment.

Their doors open mid August this past summer, so they're still new and growing. But with a great roster of classes and equipment, it looks like A Gathering of Stitches is stitching up a firm foundation in this creative community.

UPPERCASE would like to thank A Gathering of Stitches for their ongoing support of UPPERCASE. As we transition away from ads in our print magazine, we are very pleased to have A Gathering of Stitches' ad on our blog sidebar. If you are a creative business owner and would like to advertise with us, we would be happy to hear from you.

button tree decorations

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It is that time of year when I bring out my typewriter Christmas tree! Finley was spending the afternoon at the office, so I let him do the honours of unfolding the tree.

I didn't have any decorations for it—normally its tinsel branches and strange typewriter base are enough for me—but Finley thought it needed something more...

Lucky for us, I have no shortage of creative odds and ends... like a jarful of vintage buttons. These are the leftovers from assembling the goodies that come with the Dottie Angel book we published a few years ago (by the way, there are just a few copies left in the shop). Since all these buttons have shanks, we couldn't include them in the flat goodie envelopes that come with each book.

Also on hand? Some handy waxed thread from the Maine Thread Company—we profiled them in issue #16 earlier this year.

Finley and I proceeded to string multiple buttons onto lengths of the thread and I tied them into a loop.

I also made a string garland of buttons by knotting the shank of the buttons at even intervals on a 6-foot length of string. The waxed thread worked really well since nothing slips out of position.

This was a fun! And super easy. The best kind of spur-of-the-moment creative activity.

Vancouver: Porchlight Press holiday markets

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Vancouver's Porchlight Press will be debuting their line of greeting cards this weekend at two different fairs. Please read their newsletter for the details of the sale locations. Porchlight proprietor Heather Braun wrote in with some sweet things to say (thanks, Heather!):

"Creating my own line is really a long time coming—I'm super excited about getting them out there, I hope people enjoy them! I want to take this opportunity let you know, a few years back, seeing through UPPERCASE how so many others were pursuing their creative passions, it was actually a big influence on my taking the leap to leave my career and start Porchlight. Like so many others, I adore your magazine, it's like Christmas every time it arrives."

Below is a video highlighting Porchlight's letterpress workshops.

make something monday

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By now, you're probably getting tired by all the post-Thanksgiving, Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping hoopla. Me, too. I have a suggestion: Let's rebrand this day as "Make Something Monday." 

Today's the day to create a good old-fashioned made-by-hand gift.

It doesn't have to be something complicated, just something simple showing your recipient that you took some time. Time is precious; showing someone that you took time out of the busy season to make something heartfelt is powerful and will be appreciated.

Create something that comes from YOU.

It could be a handwritten card, a little embroidery on a hankie, some cookies made from scratch, a simply sewn pin cushion, an ornament made from found objects, a collage of pretty pictures, a finger-painting made with your child, a snowman in the yard (Instagram him holding a message for your friend!), a crocheted granny square coaster, a handmade notebook of blank pages with a found-paper cover... these are just a few little ideas that pop into my head.

Stay away from DIY posts and Pinterest!

These days, it is too easy to get bogged down into the perceived perfection of Pinterest and the tyranny of step-by-step craft instructions. Today's the day to unplug from these distractions. Comparing yourself to others and following directions can be so detrimental to genuine creativity. Use your own ideas, your own resources, your own ingenuity... you will make something that is from you and your heart.

Make something out of nothing.

Be experimental. Be silly. Creativity comes from letting yourself go a little bit. If you worry about stitching a straight line, today's the day to zigzag. Just gather up all your creative supplies onto the table and see what emerges.

Enjoy the process. Making things is a lot of fun!

 Happy Monday.

sampler

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Sampler by Sarajo Frieden

Sampler is a project organized by Sara Barnes. "Each artist was given a handkerchief to embroider on. I hand-selected and mailed each handkerchief. The ladies adorned their hankie however the like, and afterwards mailed it back to me."

The project features 5 talented artists and illustrators from around the world: Sarajo Frieden, Lorena Marañón, Perrin, Laura McKellar, and Amy Blackwell.

Laura McKellar

Lorena Marañón

all over sequins

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Nadia Albertini is an embroidery and textile designer and educator, based in Paris. She 
has collaborated with fashion houses such as Chloé and Chanel, creating hand embroidery designs for ready to wear and haute couture. In her new online shop, All Over Sequins, she's taking the high-end techniques and presenting them in easy-to-achieve embroidery kits. Starting with embellished canvas totes, stitchers can practice some basic embroidery and embellishing techniques. She also has a variety of sequins and cabochons supplies for those who want to experiment.

In her press kit, Nadia shares a bit about her background and techniques:

How and why did you become an embroidery designer?

I’ve always loved to make things with my hands. And I have always loved beads and pearls. I remember I had my own little jewelry line when I was 15 and I used to sell my necklaces to my friends’ moms. I initially wanted to be an accessories designer but I had a sort of epiphany during my first day at Chloé: I realized I loved embroidery. Later, I got offered the job and it all snowballed from there. Since becoming an independent embroidery designer in 2008, I have been able to collaborate with great brands, creating amazing pieces with some of the most talented ateliers in the world.

What makes you different?

I grew up in Mexico city, in a very creative and inspiring environment, speaking three languages and taught to be very open and curious. I love to travel and to experience other cultures so that has helped a lot for my work. I’m a very hands-on person, I like to make things myself to understand how they work. What I know of embroidery, I’ve learned from my grand mother but also through trial and error.

What is your creative process when working on an assignment?

I’ve known some of the designers I work with for a long time now, we understand each other by just sharing images and sketches. That creative dialogue is extremely important. I need to understand what they have in mind, what the inspiration is but also if there are any production or budget issues. The fabric selection and the color palette give me hints of the direction to follow. I start doing research in 2 or 3 libraries and online. After the research I print my research material and then build mood boards, by pinning things on my studio walls. I start drawing and looking for materials, taking pictures of them. I collage a lot and I love the Xerox machine, I use it to create the first 
versions of placements. It’s an organic, intuitive process.

Visit the All Over Sequins blog for tutorials and a bit about the history of sequins and embellishment.

Collection 5 by EG Forge

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Eric Goodwin of EG Forge was my neighbour in Art Central—and he's my neighbour here in the Devenish building, too! We were both looking at renting here at the Devenish and Eric paved the way and was a tenant first. We're both happily settled into our new workspaces. 

Eric has been busy sewing and designing. He has just released his fifth collection which will become the cornerstone "classic" designs in the EG Forge line of bags, accessories and clothing. Check out the epic films he creates for his fashions.

Tinsel Trading

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Treasured Notions features crafts inspired by the vintage beads, buttons, ribbons and trim from Tinsel Trading.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was on a mission to find a particular store that I had heard a lot about... Tinsel Trading Company.  Alas, when I got to the address, there was a simple letter-sized sheet of paper in the window saying they had moved. I couldn't go this far and not go the entire distance, so I hopped back on the subway to 828 Lexington Ave. (I guess Google Maps didn't get the notice!)

I have to admit that the small put pretty shop bedazzled with lovely Wendy Addison glass-glittered letters and letterpress labels wasn't what I was expecting. When I told the clerk I was from Canada, shared a copy of the magazine and asked to take pictures for the blog, she opened up that they had been forced to quickly move locations when the previous building was sold. It sounds like they had very little time to find a new location and thus had to downsize their retail space considerably.

You can get a sense of the previous store (and the amazing, but likely heart-wrenching moving sale) from their Facebook page.  They still had some vintage ribbons and embroidered patches and things for sale—and the massive inventory of vintage stock is in their warehouse—but I was imagining the beauty of seeing all of that vintage stock on old displays in a grand New York style. From the fondness and sadness in the clerks voice, it was clear that it is missed by all.

My purchases: a spool of yellow trim, a package of assorted vintage trim from the Tinsel Trading archives, some vintage thread and French General's book Treasured Notions featuring supplies from Tinsel Trading Company. (Published by Chronicle Books.)

It was still an awesome store to visit and I hope that Tinsel Trading will have continued success. Here's a video about the French General book as well as an older video that shows what their previous location was like... 

UPPERCASE Etsy page

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UPPERCASE on Etsy

We now have an UPPERCASE page on Etsy! I'm just getting started, but here are a few boards of things we like at UPPERCASE. If you're a subscriber to UPPERCASE magazine, I'd love to make a board highlighting the work of our very own. Please include your Etsy url in the comments below or submit here and I will build you into our pages.  Follow along on Etsy to see our picks.

magazine storage curated by UPPERCASE on Etsy
typographic curated by UPPERCASE on Etsy
home curated by UPPERCASE on Etsy

New Craft Coalition: on now!

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Here's our table at Calgary's New Craft Coalition on now (Friday evening until 9pm) and all day Saturday (10-6). I took some quick shots this afternoon while the exhibitors were still setting up their final details. Please visit the New Craft Coalition for details on the artists and their work.

Michael from Clawhammer Letterpress came all the way from BC.

Woodcuts by Lisa Brawn.

Kalika Bowlby Pottery

Gillian Hillerud

Sarah Pike

Cathy Terepocki

 Cathy Terepocki

Natalie Gerber

 Natalie Gerber

Bee Kingdom Glass

Bee Kingdom Glass

PLANT terrariums

Free admission!

Festival Hall, Inglewood, 1215 10 Ave SE.

Have a crafty and creative weekend, everyone! 

Lena Corwin: Made by Hand

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Lena Corwin's Made by Hand: A Collection of Projects to Print, Sew, Weave, Dye, Knit, or Otherwise Create With projects by: Lena Corwin, Cal Patch, Jenny Gordy, Shabd Simon-Alexander, Jennifer Sarkilahti, Liane Tyrrel, Caitlin Mociun, Wendy Hanson, Jaime Rugh, Ilana Kohn, Emily Eibel, Erin Weckerle, Sian Keegan, and Erin Considine Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (October 15, 2013) An Imprint of Abrams Books Video by Ryan Shimala/More & Co.

Made by Hand

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Made by Hand is a short film series "celebrating the people who make things by hand—sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft." Their recent film features bicycle-maker Ezra Caldwell and his very personal story of how he began his education as an industrial designer, found dance, left dance, discovered a passion for building bikes and was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. His blog documents his life now and how he remains creatively engaged while dealing with the reality of his situation.

type tuesday: she choked on her words

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We would like to congratulate UPPERCASE subscriber Eva Schroeder for being part of the Australian Craft Awards. In this inaugural event, online viewers can vote for projects created by Australian craftspeople. Eva describes the process: "Judging will be based on a three-tier process," Eva writes. "The number of online votes from the public, votes from the industry and a panel of professional judges. I was encouraged to apply based on one of my pieces of work. The award, although just a piece of paper, would mean that I could be taken seriously!" 

"In making this piece, I wanted to experiment with paper, both as a 3D sculptural media and a form of bodily decoration, as well as a way to play with words and their double meanings. With this combination in mind, I developed the 'Choker' out of paper, using predominantly geometric shapes, the printed word, a little wire and a few sparkling beads." 

"Each of the chosen words featured on the baubles begins with the letter 'C' and references the definition of the negative way that humans can speak to/and are spoken to in life. These methods of communication can lead to the subconscious stifling of the spirit and therefore the 'choking effect'."

Eva would love your support: please vote here!