Homemade Supply Co.

Artful Paper Clips

Martha, Martha, Martha...

You've done it again.  After looking at these charming DIY paper clips, I just can't wait to get my hands on some pliers and supe up my desktop.  Every piece of paper on my desk will want to hook up with every other piece of paper just to get nuzzled up to one of these.

 

Weird analogy? Definitely.  Awesome project? Absolutely.

Adorable, repurposed button hair ties

Hello!  I love this project, as it utilizes a material I always seem to have around, don't seem to need, and yet which are too pretty to throw out.

Voila!

 

Thank you, thank you!  From the fine people at CraftZine, as well as Lydia from DreamPatch.

NFA (new favorite artist): Wendy McNaughton

I've been getting back in touch with one of my favorite childhood pastimes: drawing.

I think my waning interest in drawing as a teen coincided with the increasing volume of that voice... The voice inside our heads that develops sometime during adolescence which says, "Not good enough"...

After all those years in unintentional doodle retirement, I am so glad to be back. Cartoons make me happy and I've been making them every chance I get!

But more on my work (and where to find it) in another post...

For today I'd like to spotlight my Favorite New Artist (whose work I actually was always drawn to, without ever realizing whose it was) ... Wendy McNaughton!

Wendy has a great style: colorful, simple, but very communicative. I love her mathematical and descriptive touches- her drawings include both aspects of infographics and potraiture.

Check her out, and follow her blog  as well as her column "Meanwhile" on www.therumpus.net.

Happy scribbling,
Gillian

On being prolific. Or productive.

hello Blogworld darlings:

I've decided to make a conscious effort to blog more often.  I love this blog as much now as when I conceived of it, especially now that its body of work is growing, and there's so much more to love!

I often have a notion to write a post, or share something cool or inspiring, and then for whatever reason, don't...  mostly because I love writing so much.  What I mean is that I really want to put the effort into composing not just a new post, but a fantastic post, which will be enlightening, charming, and delightful, bursting with insight, humor, and proper syntax.  

You can imagine that with expectations like that, many of these posts never get out of my head and onto the page.  And since the point of a blog is as a repository and forum for ideas  OUTSIDE OF MY HEAD, this is not very helpful.

I was fortunate enough to come across this inspiring video of Ira Glass speaking on the topic of productivity-- it seemed to perfectly sum up the same ideas which had been floating around in my mind-- but naturally, by dint of fame and bespectacledness, he said it better:

 

So, on that note, let's go create some so-so work!

Gillian

Works on Paper

Last night I was at the opening weekend festivities of a brand new paper and book shop in the Mission District, Press: Works on Paper.  It's a clean, thoughtfully designed, and very visually appealing space. The shelves display a well-curated selection of novels from small publishing houses, comic books, limited edition vintage books, bookbinding supplies, Japanese pens, pencils, found desk accessories, and various charming paper ephemera.

The two creative minds behind this store, husband-and-wife team Nick Sarno and Paulina Nassar, really nailed it.  The space is inviting and warm, and it tugs at the imagination-- causing you to linger at each shelf.  The store functions as something between a retail space and an incredible museum exhibit on the current state of indie publishing.

While I was there, the lovely Emily Stackhouse and her charming husband Nicholas Shahan were holding an intimate self-publishing lecture, and signing copies of their new comic book, "Miners Mutiny."  These two are beyond adorable, and gave a humorous flip-chart presentation on the perils and triumphs of authoring one's own comics.

all-you-can-read

local art

repurposed paper sculpture overhead

The alarmingly charming Emily and Nick, elucidating the pleasures and pitfalls of DIY publishing

papermaking supplies

If you want to bask in the glory of the written word, schmooze with local bibliophiles, or become inspired to try bookbinding, make a trip (soon) to Press: Works on Paper.  

Wedding of the Yarn... I mean, Year.

I know, I know, it's Royal Wedding mania here, and pretty much every other corner of the globe that has access to television.

Or the internet.

Or at least radio.

Or maybe a turn-crank, Twitter-enabled Boy scout ham radio?

What's that you say?  You have none of those things?  Don't worry, you can still participate in all the fun of the so-anticipated-we-might-actually-all-miss-it-because-we're-too-busy-being-excited-about-it wedding to end all weddings!

Cave-dwelling crafters, this one's for you.  Just in time for the big event, I recently stumbled upon: Knit Your Own Royal Wedding, by Fiona Goble.  

It truly is amazing-- Goble really manages to capture the essence of the entire cast of characters, including each and every one of Camilla Parker-Bowles' corgis (only a select few corgis made the cover). 

Here is a knitted re-enactment of the announcement of the Royal Engagement:

YOU be the judge:

And here's one I have to throw in just for fun, it's Prince Charles and son Prince Harry, all grown up and looking dapper with his fluorescent orange hair:

Total Kodak moment.  

For now, you better get knitting!  Only a few more weeks to go!  Now we can all share in the plush lifestyle of the rich and famous...

What to wear today...?

Many thanks to Maria Popova of Brainpickings.org for today's awesome crafty find: PhotoJojo's tutorial for making your own completely customized outfit-choosing flipbook!

(pause for jubilation)

This is seriously exciting.  This is the next-best-thing to Cher's automated closet and fashion coordinating computer system in Clueless. 

Unfortunately, that doesn't exist.  But this can:

Even if you never *actually* use it to help select your outfit du jour, it will still be totally worth it for the endless hours of fun of trying on all your clothes and having your friends take pictures of you.  This perfectly complements my life philosophy:

"If it requires a photo shoot, it must be worthwhile." --gillian

I can already see brilliantly clashing ensembles in my future...

Hypercolor Permutations

Today was a normal enough day.  I had set off this morning on a very mellow mission: to drop off a homemade MMPA (Mixed-Media Postal Art-- more on that in another post) package for a friend, and then find a nice sunny spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine with a good book.

I was enjoying the state of bliss that comes from not having anywhere particular to be, and nothing at all to do, when I was struck by an irrepressible creative urge-- it was like a sneeze: I couldn't hold it in!  I saw flashes of color!  Fabric! A matrix of patterns!  Many of you may recognize this smasmic artgasm:  I knew I needed to pack up all my stuff, run home, and start quilting.  In just minutes, with the soothing voice of Ira Glass on This American Life as my soundtrack, my scissors were furiously cutting, and fabric scrap fireworks flew threw the air like it was Fourth of July.

In no time at all I had my quilt laid out:

Starting to come together...

And quick as a jif, the quilt top is all finished!  

I think it will look quite nice there once all the finishing work is done.  Tomorrow's work is to scout out the perfect backing fabric and trim...

I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress!

Get your paint on

Hey all!

Those who know me know that I am a perpetual art student, ALWAYS interested in learning new crafts and working with new materials (my good friend Meghan dubbed me Gill of all Trades-- has a nice ring to it, no?)...

I just came across this awesome-superamazing-inspirational painting class... although sadly, too late to enroll.  But I wanted to share the link with you anyway:

1. because it has lots of amazing art, photos, and 2 super-cool chicks, and

2. because they will be offering it again!  So we can bookmark it and sign up then :)

(collaborative painting by Mati and Lisa)

The class is put on by local SF painters Lisa Congdon and Mati McDonough, who are:

1. super cute

2. professional artists (as in, they make money by doing art);  excellent.  and,

3. neither of them even thought about being artists till their 30s!!  much like the Fabulous Julia Child, kitchen whiz and fellow late bloomer.

(painting by Mati McDonough)

 

This seems like it will be a great class (for those who got in) from two awesome ladies.  I'll be there next time.

Till then, I am definitely inspired to do some sketching today...

cheers, color, and creativity,

Gillian

Crisp Winter Brights

The New Year is a great time for a fresh start, and sprucing things up with a few homemade touches around the house is a great place to begin.

While perusing the fabulous Ancient Industries blog last night after a very lazy New Years Day, I came across this lovely photo by Kendra Wilson. 

I loved the delicate teacups and saucers, and the way the photo evokes a modern tea party in an English cottage.  But I especially went nuts for the super-sweet gingham tablecloth.  So very countryside, so homey and inviting.  I wanted to make a similar one for my table, but I decided to opt for placemats instead, to incorporate the country-kitchen vibe in bite-size bursts.

I used leftover fabric in mix-and-match colors of gingham, and lined them all with charcoal gray linen on the backs, so they're actually reversible, depending on the occasion. 

I love how cheerful they came out!  Who needs caffeine in the morning with bursts of chipper, colorful gingham on your breakfast table? 

It's going to be a crafty new year, I can just feel it...