Craftcation 2013

We are so excited to be a sponsor of Craftcation 2013! If you haven't read my earlier post expounding the many virtues of this unique conference, Craftcation is four days of indie business lectures on how to start a crafty business, maximizing social media, blogging, in’s & out’s of indie craft shows, etsy, wholesaling, merchandising, accounting, legal issues, branding, website design, marketing on a budget, and more (whew!). And for hands-on fun there are plentiful DIY workshops such as knitting, printing, sewing, canning & preserving, photography, small batch caramels, needle arts, jewelry, embroidery, and bookbinding. Oh, did I mention the awesome extra events like yoga, pop-up shows, cocktail socials and more? We benefited so greatly from the professional and peer advice and networking of the 2012 conference that we can only imagine how they will top it this time!

Whether you are looking to start, maintain or grow your indie business or take a break from your routine and learn new skills while networking, it's an event not to be missed. Registration opened September 1st, so be sure to sign up before it sells out!

Lauren

Womannequins

Last week we took another trip up to LA, this time with stops at PGM and the fashion district to pick up some dress forms for the studio and some awesome knit fabrics for the shop! Not only do we love the dress forms we got, but the PGM warehouse was a treat in itself, so many shapes and sizes (we can't wait to expand to men's and children's soon)!

Below is a snapshot of our shiny new purchases in the back of the cargo van (that's right, we're renting so many trucks lately, I just might trade in my sewing machine for a big rig!).

More progress photos coming soon on our facebook page!

-Lauren

Flea Market Finds & Other Exciting Additions

We braved the 110° scorcher this past Sunday for a trip to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, and although delirious from heat and piles of shiny objects, we were lucky to pick up a couple of great pieces for the shop. The magazine rack on the left will showcase some great craft reads (you can catch a glimpse of our display shelving-in-progress behind!), while the awesome black storage cabinet is awaiting its use designation...so many possibilities!

And.................machines are arriving!! Take a look at our shiny new additions below, the Baby Lock Grace sewing machine, Brother 5234PRW serger, and Baby Lock Evolution coverstitch (this machine is amazing, two words...Air Threading!).

Commence drooling.

We have a location!

We are one step closer to opening our doors...now that we actually have them! After an exhaustive search, we stumbled on this space and got that fuzzy feeling inside. We love it's industrial feel with wide open workspace and can't wait to see it filled with creative projects! Here are a few pictures of our little remodel, courtesy of our friend Simon Rotkopf.

 

You can't miss the giant work table in the bottom right image, but what you can't see is the equally giant cutting mat covering the top! We are beyond excited to begin filling the space with the equipment of our (and hopefully your) dreams. More pictures to follow as we progress and add furniture and machines!!

Patchwork Santa Ana

Last weekend we attended the super awesome Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival in Santa Ana. This year's new Arts District location was amazing with each unique booth tucked between the beautiful architecture and liveliness of the neighborhood. With live music, crafts, and special touches throughout (i.e. a bike valet!!) I could have stayed all day.

There were so many amazing vendors...a few of my favorites being Fruition Jewelry, with gorgeous metal worked jewelry that would be the perfect staple to any wardrobe, Yellow 108, whose booth was as charming as their sustainable (and especially fashionable) hats, and Reclamation Dept with their reclaimed rubber bags for the arm and bicycle...seriously awesome! We had the pleasure of saying hi to Delilah and Nicole as well, the amazing ladies who are the brains and, i don't doubt, the brawn behind Patchwork and Craftcation (happening again Spring 2013!).

If you missed the Santa Ana Patchwork, there's still one more for this Spring on June 10th in Culver City!

Lauren

Cinco de Derby

With the Kentucky Derby falling on Cinco de Mayo this year, the party possibilities were plentiful and my friends did not disappoint, throwing a hats-required Mexican-Derby fiesta. I love any excuse to make a costume, so I went to work immediately on a Mexican themed derby hat!

The original hat had a great woven pattern, 

but I had some more exciting fake flowers in mind...

Shaping the brim to get a classic derby silhouette,

I used a light wire around the edge and tacked the brim up with some thread. 

I think there are better techniques out there, but it did the trick!

 A few tissue paper flowers later, with some tulle because it just wasn't quite loud enough yet!

Having made it fairly last minute, I would have loved to try some other techniques on shaping the brim and added more craziness, but I'm pretty pleased with the results! Just trying to figure out if I will ever get to wear it again...

Lauren

Knitting al Fresco

After a leisurely Sunday lunch with family, the dishes are done and there's just enough time to enjoy some knitting on the balcony with a crisp breeze. I'm loving daylight savings time!

I picked up this amazing organic wool & superfine alpaca yarn in Italy but, as usual, had trouble committing it to a project. The first attempt was a scarf, but the variation in the thickness of the yarn was creating a really unintentional popcorn look. I've finally found a nice balance of stitches and the thicker part doesn't pop out as much on the knit side (vs. the purl side). It should be a lovely, albeit small, pillow when finished (and blocked!). This yarn has convinced me that it's better to start a project and take it apart rather than have its wasted potential buried in my closet.

On a side note, I bought a loaf of bread earlier this week and while the crust usually forms a nice crest on top, this one was exceptional...it made a bunny shape! 

I almost felt bad to toast it!

Happy Easter!

Lauren