by Jensen



Previously Jensen had fun with 7 inches, this week she goes all the way, getting crafty – on video – doing some cool things with not one, but two 12 inches.

Felt Club is a small-scale craft show that throws down in Los Angeles on a monthly basis. Remember? The next one is coming up this Sunday, October 8th at the Echo. But wait!

For those who interested in shopping around the holidays, participating in a future Felt Club event, or just being part of what is sure to be a spectacular event, Felt Club has recently announced plans for an XL HOLIDAY show. Applications to participate in the December 9th event are due October 16. However, even if you don't craft, there are tons of ways to get involved. I chatted a bit with Jenny Ryan, creator of Felt Club, to find out more about the show, what will make the December event "XL", and how SG readers can be a part of it all.



SUSIE GHAHREMANI: What distinguishes the XL HOLIDAY show different from other Felt Club events?

FELT CLUB: Basically, we're doing the same show but on a much larger scale, with almost 3x the amount of vendors. Crafters really pull out all the stops when it comes to making stuff around the holidays, so if people think the wares at our monthly events are super rad, the stuff we'll be exhibiting at the XL Holiday show will be, like, super-spectacularly rad to the EXTREME! We're also encouraging more comic artist/illustator peeps to apply and have been really pleased with the results.

SG: What are some of the other planned festivities for the show besides the craft sales?

FC: We've got a full kitchen this time, which will be serving up delish treats from a fab local eatery (soon to be revealed), a chill-out lounge area staffed by crafty elves who will teach you to knit or decorate Xmas stockings with you, plus we're handing out swag bags full of free magazines, coupons, and small goodies from various local businesses. Music will be provided by DJs Dirty Robot and Lance Rock, and we'll be raffling off various prizes throughout the day (proceeds will benefit the gals behind the Indie Craft Documentary project.) CRAFT magazine will also have a presence, which should be a lot of fun.


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SG: How else can SG readers get involved in the show?

FC: Excellent question! We will be needing plenty of volunteers to help with everything from set-up to flyering to swag bag distribution, etc. Anyone interested in helping out should e-mail me at volunteer@feltclub.com and get ready to bask in the undying gratitude that is sure to follow. Even if you can't volunteer, helping us spread the word is totally appreciated. The first rule of Felt Club is PLEASE talk about Felt Club!

SG: Tell us a secret about the holiday show!

FC: Ooh, secrets! Well, don't tell anyone you heard it here...but there may just be a giant anthropomorphic bottle of glue attending our event. No, really! You'll just have to show up and see it for yourself.

Midwestern crafters who missed out on being a part of Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago earlier this year have another chance. A Renegade Craft Fair just in time for the holiday season was recently announced. Applications are being accepted until November 1st, so get to it! The show will take place over the weekend of December 9th, hopefully not outdoors.


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Be sure to check back at the Renegade website for applications and more info.

It's easy to spot an original work by Happy Owl Glassworks, an indie craft business dedicated to portraying unusual animals in fused glass on functional objects such as soap dishes and cufflinks. One of her most recognizable works is the highly collectable and popular Badge Menagerie, a collection of small, square pendants featuring glass silhouettes of over 25 animals. I chatted a bit with Tracy Bull, the artist behind Happy Owl, to get some more information about her collection. Read on.


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SUSIE GHAHREMANI: Tell me a little about your background.

HAPPY OWL GLASSWORKS: I was born and raised in Aurora, IL, a distant suburb of Chicago. [EDIT: ...and the site of Wayne's World --SG] My original goal of graphic design and illustration died quickly after carpal tunnel syndrome set in, so I ended up going to the School for American Crafts in Rochester, NY, specifically for glass. This was a huge change in my thinking, but a welcome one. Though glass can be a very 3-dimensional medium, I ended up working more with surface design in the form of glass fusing, rather than sculpture and glassblowing. After leaving school, my then-boyfriend and I moved to Berkeley for a couple years, followed by a year in Bozeman, MT and then down to Los Angeles where I began my business. After a few years of the smoggy air, we bolted LA and moved back to the east coast. We currently live on the outskirts of Boston.

SG: What's the story behind Happy Owl Glass? How did you begin your line?

HOG: While I lived in Bozeman, I was part of a co-op art gallery. This was very exciting, and I was able to create work to show at any given time. It was also an introduction into the more functional world of glass—I really became interested in the idea of making work that served a practical purpose. Coincidentally, a gallery I was familiar with in Kentucky was looking for production glasswork. I sent them a few sets of coasters and pendants, and they took off. I figured if the work did well at the gallery, why not seek a larger audience online? I knew a few programs from my days of being in graphic design, so I built my website when we moved to LA that year. Thus Happy Owl Glassworks was born.



The name comes from my longtime love of owls. While living in Montana we had the amazing opportunity to see these mysterious creatures in the wild. Not long after I started the business, I participated in the first Bazaar Bizarre West in 2003. There I met others who aspired to make their living off their craft, and I felt like I found my niche. It was in the second year of the business that I left my office job (well, got laid-off, really!), and made Happy Owl its own fulltime job. I’ve been evolving ever since, and I’ve kept to my love-of-wildlife theme throughout pretty consistently.

SG: Tell me about one of your favorite products.

HOG: When I was building the Badge Menagerie, I often visited the Los Angeles Zoo for its resources. Once, around a corner I stumbled upon these huge dinosaur-like feet. As I panned up it turned out to be a bird that I’d never seen before. Our eyes locked and we studied each other. She was nearly motionless as I drew a quick sketch (I’d neglected to bring my camera) and took some notes on her history. She was a very slow bird, with no wings, feathers that look like quills, and a prehistoric-looking casque on her head. The name of this bird turned out to be a cassowary, and this was the first animal that I knew HAD to be in the Menagerie (besides the owl of course!). We really bonded and it was a wonderful experience. Though customers definitely didn’t agree—she was one of my least-selling badges to date. I highly recommend looking them up, though, they’re fascinating animals!


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SG: What inspires and influences your work?

HOG: Wildlife is an obvious inspiration for my imagery, and I visit as many places as I can to learn more about the animals that I use. I don’t want to just create an item with an animal for popularity’s sake (think cats). My aim is to understand the animals I use and to be able to explain what is so special about them. And I really enjoy learning about the various species, especially the obscure, oft-ignored or unloved animals. I suppose I’m a super-amateur-zoologist.



SG: How do you overcome feeling drained of inspiration or out of ideas?

HOG: I remember to not take myself too seriously, and that the feeling of being out-of-ideas will pass. What usually happens for me is a sort of “a-ha!” moment from doing something unexpected. I just try to mix up my schedule a lot, because doing new things always seems to bring about some sort of inspiration… listening to new music, visiting new places, people-watching—as simple as walking down a road I’ve never been on, just to get a new perspective. I often look through books, visit the library, take hikes, and, stay away from the time-vacuum that is the computer!

SG: What's your favorite texture?

HOG: Dry rice, cooked noodles, silky pastry dough… of course they’re all food references.

SG: What's your guilty pleasure?

HOG: Pizzas: in almost any shape or form. And, America’s Next Top Model. I sure get a kick out of that show.



SG: What's next for you and your work?

HOG: I’m constantly creating new work for the website, which takes up a lot of time. I’ve been working on glass buttons for some time now (for sewing or knitting projects), so I’ll be adding those very soon. With the holidays just around the corner, I’ll be very busy with orders both retail and wholesale, come November. But recently I’m very excited about my show that will be happening in March of next year at the Paper Boat Boutique, so I’m working on some larger, mixed-media pieces that only barely include glass. I’ve always used my illustrations as an underlying theme in my glasswork, and the show is a chance for me to exhibit that side of my work.


Visit Happy Owl Glassworks online at happyowlglass.com. This interview was conducted by boygirlpartay, crafter, illustrator and proprietor of boygirlparty.com.

City by city, holiday shopping is already meeting its crafty maker as the weather gets cooler. This Sunday, October 1st, Washington D.C. offers up one of the most exciting shows on the East coast, so clear off your schedule and check out Crafty Bastards.

Crafty Bastards is an outdoor artists' market sponsored by the Washington City Paper featuring a ton of handmade and unique artisan wares atypical of your average craft show. Check out the enormous vendor list, which also includes the full entertainment roster for the day.



All the info you'll need to attend is here.

For anyone wanting to try their hand at some quick and dirty printmaking, try a stencil. It's a cheap, easy way to get your drawing onto any surface: walls, t-shirts, sidewalks and more, the possibilities are seemingly endless and it's fun to do.

Stencil Revolution is a community-based website at which users can join, upload/download original stencil designs, post photos of their stencil results, and more. It's a great place to start for some well-explained how-to's such as how to prepare and print a multi-color stencil.

Download stencil-friendly fonts, browse the thousands of photos in the stencil gallery, and get inspired to give it a shot.



Photo Location: Stenciling by Peat Wollaeger ("Customize Your Vans" tutorial here!)

Every first Thursday of the month from 7-10pm, Young Blood Gallery and Boutique in Atlanta, GA hosts an alternative artists' market called Kraftwork. According to the website, vendor space and attendance is free and space availability is on a first-come first-serve basis. Aspiring crafters in Atlanta and handmade enthusiasts, the next event is October 5th!


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Crowded Teeth is a California-based apparel company run singly by designer Michelle Romo. Armed with a wonderful collection of t-shirts, scarves, mittens and more, Crowded Teeth is quickly blossoming into an exciting collection, charmed with unique and constantly rotating designs and enthusiasm for cute products. I briefly interviewed Michelle to find out more.


Crowded Teeth tee on "Scrubs"

SUSIE GHAHREMANI: Tell me a little about your background.

CROWDED TEETH: Right now I'm living and working in LA and I love it. I hardly ever go out or even do anything, but just knowing there is this giant city of opportunity really makes me stoked. I never went to school; I'm a big loser drop out. I wish I could go back to school for some kind of fine art because my hand drawing and painting skills are totally lacking. My life consists of a full time regular day job from 9-5 and Crowded Teeth from 6-2. It's hard but I love it. It keeps me busy and lets me have my own little creative bubble.



SG: What's the story behind Crowded Teeth? How did you begin, what's your mission, your aspirations for the line?

CT: Crowded Teeth has only been around a couple of years, but I started doing Yellow Toothpick 6 years ago. Yellow Toothpick was basically Crowded Teeth lite.

I started out just wanting to make t-shirts with cute designs. I bought a heat-press and started doing cheap tees, and progressed into sewing handmade items. Eventually it became what it is today - random cute products with a strong base of tees and hoodies. I'm still doing what I set out to do - but I hope some day I can grow my line into this massive amazing thing. I just want to make all kinds of different products (jewelry, houseware, clothing, etc.)

SG: What's your favorite CT product at the moment?

CT: My favorite product is anything with the Teru Teru Bozu. It just reminds me of being a kid.
A teru teru bozu is a little thing you make out of tissue when it rains and you hang it in the window to make the rain go away. It's a Japanese thing.

I am such a half-assed cultural person but I loved making those little guys when I was a kid. People always mistake him for a ghost, or a jellyfish. But I know what he is and I love him.



Also I am totally crazy about my scarves and mittens. I think it just feels like such a big step for me and it was such a huge project. I'm proud and excited to have my apartment looking like a warehouse.

SG: What inspires/influences your work?

CT: I live in LA and I'm lucky to be surrounded by art and art shows and interesting people doing new things. Right now my favorite artist is Audrey Kawasaki, her artwork is really different than mine but it totally inspires me. It's just so beautiful. Ryan McGiness is also one of my favorite people of all time. I don't ever want to copy these people's styles, but just looking at their stuff makes my heart flutter and my brain get into "work mode."

A lot of stuff from my childhood also influences me. I think I had a pretty great time growing up and I try to re-create things I liked from when I was little into my everyday life. For example: I also like Japanese things and vintage packaging. My mom is Japanese and every other summer my grandparents would visit and would bring me little trinkets and food items from Japan, and I never fully grasped onto the culture but those summers were enough to influence me. And my American grandma had an amazing assortment of products that she kept from the 50's and 60's so her house had a lot of that design to it.



SG: How do you overcome feeling drained of inspiration or out of ideas?

CT: I nap and play video games. Honestly.

SG: What's your favorite texture?

CT: Paper! All kinds too! Sometimes I touch paper with a really smooth finish and it makes my hands hurt and I get weird chills. And sometimes the way old books feel; like the pages might rip - is great.

SG: What's your guilty pleasure?

CT: Like a lot of girls, I like to shop and buy stupid shit. I think I am not girly in a lot of ways but I love shoes way too much. I love shoes so much I really do feel weird about it.

SG: What's next for Crowded Teeth?

CT: My Fall line is going to be available in October, that will keep me busy for a while. And I'm going to try to host an art show in October or November. I am doing the Los Angeles Bazaar Bizarre in December, I will probably be at Pool [trade show] in Vegas in February. Mostly I'll just be working, working, working.

Columbus, Ohio seems an unlikely location for an event called Craftin' Outlaws, but on Saturday, September 23rd, there it shall be. Featuring over 50 crafty vendors selling handmade art, gifts, apparel and more, the show will offer more than a handful in door prizes alone. Clamor is one of the sponsors for the event, so sample copies will be free to visitors, along with goodie bags and vendor discounts for the first 100 attendees. Columbus, Craftin' Outlaws is calling your name.

For more info, check out the Craftin' Outlaws website or myspace page. Those outside the ol' "Buckeye State" can shop online with many of the vendors from the show on their websites.


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Sarah Neuburger, the artist behind The Small Object, can turn surfaces as unsuspecting as fingerprints and clothespins into quirky, collectable characters. Her handmade gifts are charming and rather kawaii, despite her Southern roots. From stationery to rubber stamps, she's adorned her collection with her unique characters, and most of her products are (you guessed it) small, therefore all the more precious and keepsake-worthy.



Sarah/The Small Object sat down for a little Q&A with SuicideGirls to share the background and inspiration behind her charming work.

SG: Tell me a little about your background.

TSO: I find great pleasure in being born in a town called Normal, IL because I wonder endlessly why someone would name a town Normal. I didn't actually live in Normal, I was just born there. Right now I live in Columbia, SC which is where I've been for the past couple of years. I went to graduate school at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and lived in Brooklyn and Jersey City for about six years before I moved back down to Columbia. I opened my online shop about a year and a half ago which allowed me to send parcels of my work out all over.

SG: What materials do you work with? What is your objective regarding your work?

TSO: While I was in college I spent a summer doing a work exchange program at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, which is located in Gatlinburg, TN. It was an amazing summer filled with classes like experimental cloisonné and small-scale furniture design while spending the evenings silkscreening and listening to bluegrass music and drinking homemade Panther Piss in the woods.

But the best part was learning so many different techniques and skills with such a varied mix of experience levels. Having been raised by a mother who labored days over articulately flowered Barbie doll birthday cake dresses and sewed our own stuffed animals and Jams shorts, I was very much into making things--all sorts of things. Things you hang on the wall, things you fire, things you draw, things you cut and solder, things you saw and nail, everything.



I want to make things for our everyday--whether they be useful recipe cards or a collage for your bedroom. Which is also why I chose SVA since you didn't have to chose an artistic discipline, you just made stuff and you got a studio space to do that in for a couple years. So while I used to make mural size drawings, my stuff has gotten smaller but the materials run the gamut. I like learning new things so this year was making things like the stuff I made with hand carved stamps + iron-on transfers while sourcing out new products that I can have made from my own designs
like my rubber stamps.

SG: What inspires or influences your work?

TSO: Geez, what doesn't influence my work? Sometimes I think that this is all my head thinks about.. whatever I come into contact with: the children's books I read to my niece and nephew or drawings we make together, or magazines or photos on Flickr or an ad campaign I see at a bus stop. Its everywhere.



SG: What do you do when you feel drained of inspiration or out of ideas?

TSO: Usually, I make something I used to do all the time when I was younger which sometimes turns into something new now. If I'm really out of ideas, I'll make myself some new pants, from a pattern, and zone out. Right now, I can cut and sew a pair in about 30 minutes. Not having to think about how to make them is incredibly relaxing to me, I started using this pattern about 10 years ago so I could probably cut it out in my sleep now. It's all I wear. Ever.

SG: What's your favorite texture?

TSO: To eat: crunchy outside, soft inside. To draw: flat and smooth. To feel: soft and chilly.

SG: What are some of your guilty pleasures?

TSO: Martha Stewart and ruffles.

SG: What's next for The Small Object?

TSO: The holidays are coming, so I'm working on lots of stuff for my shop. I want to do some drawings with watercolor and make some street maps. I've fallen hardcore for maps this past year. I will do a couple of craft shows but mainly just look forward to some cooler temperatures and driving to see some snow.


This interview was conducted by boygirlpartay, a painter and fellow crafter generally interested in all things small.

Chicagoans, brace yourselves. Renegade Craft Fair is the midwest's one-stop for handmade, unusual and DIY crafts and art, and is kicking off its fourth year running this September 16th and 17th. With over 180 vendors, the show will guarantee first-rate handmade by some of the best crafters, printmakers and artists from Chicago and beyond.

Psst! Out-of-towners, get your holiday shopping done early with website shopping enabled crafters c/o the 2006 Renegade vendor list.


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Visit the site for full details on attending the show this upcoming weekend; the fest takes place in Wicker Park off N. Damen Ave., from 11am - 6pm.

SuicideGirl Roethke generously shared her homemade tutorial on how to make a Dino Dress with the SG Crafty group. Get out your scissors and sewing machines, this one is great. Thorough and loaded with pictures. You'll need: some basic sewing skills (by hand or machine); a really big piece of paper to make your shirt pattern; a bed sheet (or comparable length of fabric, but hey - let's recycle); some muslin or other light fabric to line the dress with; pins; a 12-inch zipper; and a martini for Roethke.




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Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival kicks off this weekend, beginning Sept 2nd. While this technically is filed under music news, in addition to the standard line-up of bands and performers, this year, the fest has also organized a good old fashioned craft fair. Local designers will be representing their handmade art and products in an area designated specifically for the crafts, so festival-goers, be sure to check it out.

Those not heading to Bumbershoot (or visitors otherwise occupied with following Blondie around the fest all day) can still catch what the craft show will offer by visiting the indie designers selected for the show here. One of my favorites is Copacetique, a cutie online boutique of vintage and otherwise charming accessories and crafts representing over 100 artists.

This Thursday, August 31st wraps up the final voting opportunity for the first annual Plummies, an award created for crafters by crafters. While singling out certain crafters as "the best" seems to be counterintuitive for a medium that loudly and constantly proclaims "do it yourself!", getting a pat on the back from your fellow crafters, and seeing the names of crafters you love on the nominees list never felt so good.



Browse the nominees and pick your favorites for all the categories, including titles such as "Best Craft-Related Blog", "Best Plushies" and "Best 1-inch Buttons". Be sure to vote for all the categories or your vote won't count.

Make Magazine recently announced their forthcoming sister publication, CRAFT, dedicated to the contemporary craft renaissance and the crafters who craft it. As a promotion, they invited their future audience to get involved by incorporating the magazine logo into their crafts and entering them into a contest. The four winning entries will appear in the premiere issue.


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Click here to learn more about the contest; check out the current entries here.

Crafty Wonderland is Portland's monthly guerilla "art & craft extravaganza!" The show occurs on the second Sunday of every month at the awesome Doug Fir, a stunning bar/club/lounge any Portland visitors should make a point of checking out anyway. However, brimming with awesome, unique, DIY craft from about 40 vendors each month, plan your visit around Crafty Wonderland: the next show is on August 13th from 11-4pm.


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Check out the vendor list for a roster of current and past participants, with links to many individual shops online so you won't necessarily be missing out if you're missing out.

It's obvious that SuicideGirl Twinkie is a lovely lady, but do you know about her incredible crochet skills? Twinkie whips up ridiculously amazing handmade scarves inspired by the edible and sells them on her adorable website.

They're almost always sold out, so be sure to sign up for her mailing list for the latest news. If you're lucky, you'll get a chance to nab one of her originals!


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Also, don't forget to visit the gallery to catch some of her past creations.

Silkscreening is a sought-after printmaking skill, and while I personally suck at it, I can appreciate a thorough tutorial. That's exactly what No Media Kings has put together. Carefully, if not thoughtfully, explained directions complete with step-by-step pictures will get the dedicated hopefuls all set up to print t-shirts, posters and more.


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For a quick and dirty version, check out Kristy's Craftgrrl Cheap Screen Printing Tutorial, too.

This Saturday and Sunday, July 29th and 30th is the first ever San Diego Punk Rock Craft Fair. Aside from the many vendors gracing the event, there will also be bands, a zine demo, a henna tattoo demo, a dominatrix stand-up comic, the Derby Dolls, a wrestling show, burlesque show, door prizes, gift bags and more. The event will be held at UCSD's Che Cafe from 10am to 6pm.

I'll be there on Saturday; hope to see you then. However, those missing out on the weekend of festivities can check out the vendor gallery to shop online.


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Leah Kramer, founder of the revolutionary DIY website Craftster, had the brilliant idea to compile the kitschiest of retro crafts into a book. The full color how-to, The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts is "hilariously kitschy" as a coffee table book, but also genuinely triggers the feel-good impulse to make something cool or weird out of old junk lying around the house.


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Leah will be visiting west coast cities San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Portland this week on her book tour. Each event will be held at a brick-and-mortar shop or bookstore and will feature demos, surprise craft swaps and signings. Bring something blank to embellish Craftster-style (like a t-shirt) because the whole Craftster campaign is to "do something crafty" and dammit, Leah's going to see to it that you do!

Of course, for those missing out on the book tour or want to be more involved, be sure to show off your results of completed Craftster book projects in the forum.